Synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanoparticles-grafted-hyaluronic acid/β-cyclodextrin as a novel pH-sensetive nanocarrier for targeted delivery of doxorubicin

pH-sensitive magnetic nanocarrier was fabricated by the graft of hyaluronic acid/β-cyclodextrin onto Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles for doxorubicin delivery. The surface morphology, magnetic property, thermal stability, and chemical structure of the magnetic nanocarrier were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller techniques. Doxorubicin as a chemotherapy drug, in-vitro release behavior was performed at two pH levels (simulated human blood fluid (pH = 7.4) and simulated cancer fluid (pH = 5.6)) and indicated strong pH dependence. The pH-sensitive release behavior of the nanocarrier shown higher doxorubicin release at pH = 5.6 (92.43%; 48 h) than at pH = 7.4 (77.05%; 48 h). Also, the results shown that the doxorubicin release mechanism from nanocarrier was controlled by Fickian diffusion kinetic. The data of the sorption shown that the surface modification of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles has a great impact on the drug sorption and increased it, and indicated this procedure is more compatible with Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Moreover, thermodynamic parameters indicated that the doxorubicin adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous. Also, the value of the Gibb's free energy and enthalpy indicated physiochemical sorption. The obtained data could introduce pH-sensitive nanocarrier as a high potential drug delivery system.