Development of heparin-coated magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery applications

Abstract

We have designed a potential drug delivery system by combining low-molecular-weight heparin to iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with an average size of 20 nm. The particles were synthesized by the NaBH4 reduction of FeCl2 and then coated with poly-L-lysine. Heparin was noncovalently conjugated on these nanoparticles via the interactions between the negatively charged sulfate and carboxylate groups of heparin and the positively charged amine group of poly-L-lysine. The nanoparticles were examined by using transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and zeta potential measurements. The data provide direct evidence that the heparin was immobilized at the surface of poly-L-lysine-coated iron oxide nanoparticles. Magnetic measurements revealed the particles are ferromagnetic with a saturation magnetization of 31 emu/g.