Synthesis and Characterization of Fe3O4@TiO2 for Drug Delivery Applications

Abstract

Drug delivery systems have substantially advanced as an outcome of the medical field's utilization of nanotechnology. Fe3O4@TiO2 core-shell nanoparticles, which combine the biocompatibility of TiO2 with the magnetic characteristics of Fe3O4 (magnetite), are an intriguing method. This study focusses on using hydrothermal synthesis to generate Fe3O4@TiO2 nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery applications. The model drug deployed was ciprofloxacin and it was intended to be loaded onto Fe3O4 nanoparticles that were both pure and TiO2-incorporated. The structural, morphological, and functional group attributes were explored by employing XRD, SEM, and FTIR correspondingly. XRD evaluation revealed the unique peaks of both components, confirming the successful formation of Fe3O4 and Fe3O4@TiO2 core-shell nanoparticles. The particle size of these nanoparticles was less than 100 nm, making them appropriate for use in biological applications, according to SEM analysis. The effective synthesis and functionalization of the nanoparticles were validated by FTIR, which also indicated the presence of functional groups. The hemolysis assay and drug loading and release features were studied using UVVis spectroscopy. Fe3O4@TiO2 nanoparticles with a weight percentage of 20 shown to have the highest drug encapsulation efficiency and greatest drug release, pursuant to the findings. With an initial burst release over the first 4 hours, the total drug release over the course of 24 hours was 93.21%. As the TiO2 content boosted the hemolytic activity of the Fe3O4@TiO2 nanoparticles minimized implying enhanced biocompatibility. Hemolytic activity of 4.6% was obtained with a TiO2 Wt % 20, suggesting low toxicity and excellent blood compatibility. Their performance and biocompatibility can be further improved by adjusting the Fe3O4 to TiO2 ratio, opening the door for their employment in cutting-edge therapeutic applications.