Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 as an efficient nanomagnetic carrier for controlled loading and release of acyclovir

Considering many applications of functionalized metal oxide nanoparticles in magnetic resonance imaging, drug delivery, neutron irradiation, electronics, catalysis and optics; herein, a new strategy is developed to functionalize magnetite nanoparticles to improve their performances in the delivery of acyclovir. In this study, magnetite Fe3O4 nanoparticles are synthesized by hydrothermal method. Then, the surface hydroxyl groups were extended by treating with TEOS (tetraethyl orthosilicate); Finally, TMPA (trimethoxysilyl propylamine) was anchored to the surface hydroxyl groups to produce amino-functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 magnetic nanoparticles. The synthesized sample was characterized by UV-Vis, FESEM, FT-IR, and XRD. Afterward, the functionalized nanoparticles were examined in the delivery of acyclovir as an active antiviral drug model involving amine and hydroxyl functional groups. For this purpose, the amount of loading/release of the drug was investigated in different pHs, including mouth and stomach pH values. The screened experimental parameters in this study revealed that the prepared magnetite nanoparticles decorated with amine functional groups are successful in the controlled delivery of acyclovir.