Synthesis of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel grafted by modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles: characterization and doxorubicin delivery studies

During the last two decades, serious efforts have been directed towards the synthesis and coating magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Among many different types of polymeric coating materials that have been utilized in previous studies, we have selected polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). In this study, we report a novel type of magnetite nanocomposite-based PVA hydrogel. For this purpose, first, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were modified through hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) and then PVA was modified by bromoacetyl bromide to produce bromoacetylated PVA. The modified PVA was cross-linked through various diamines such as ethylene-diamine, propylenediamine and hexamethylenediamine. The prepared weak tridimensional PVA hydrogels were further reacted through unreacted hydroxyl groups with Fe3O4, modified by HMDI to form magnetite hard tridimensional hydrogels. The swelling behavior of the prepared magnetite nanocomposites were investigated and showed a fast initial swelling followed by a mild increase until attaining equilibrium. The structural, morphological, thermal and magnetic properties of the synthesized magnetite nanocomposites were confirmed by FTIR, thermal gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer and scanning electron microscopy. The doxorubicin anti-tumor drug was loaded on a selected synthesized magnetic hydrogel and in vitro drug release studies were done in phosphate buffer solution in 37 degrees C.