Optimization of Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Preparation for Biomedical Applications by Using Box-Behenken Design

Magnetic nanoparticles can bind to different drug delivery systems and can be used for drug targeting to a specific organ by using an external magnetic field as well as used in hyperthermia by heating in alternating magnetic fields. The characteristics of iron oxide nanoparticles are significantly affected by particle size, shape and zeta potential, among which the particle size plays the most important role. In this study, a chemometric approach was applied for the optimization of iron oxide nanoparticle size. To optimize the size of nanoparticles, the effect of three experimental parameters on size was investigated by means of multivariant analysis for which Fe   2+/Fe3+ ratio, pH and ionic strength of the media were considered. The experiments were performed on the basis of the Box-Behenken experimental design. The obtained regression model was characterized by both descriptive and predictive abilities (R2 = 1). The method was optimized with respect to Z average diameter as a response. The Box-Behenken experimental design provides optimality in optimizing and testing the robustness of iron oxide nanoparticles preparation method.