Preparation and characterization of natural polymers as stabilizer for magnetic nanoparticles by gamma irradiation

Hydroxyethyl methacryate (HEMA)-Agar and Hydroxyethyl methacryate (HEMA)-Gelatin hydrogels have been prepared by gamma radiation as polymeric stabilizer for magnetic nanoparticles via radiation technique and loading co-precipitation technique. The swelling property of the prepared hydrogels in bidistilled water and different pH’s was studied and the results showed that, the swelling percent of the plain hydrogel was found to be higher for all different compositions. The morphology and structure of the prepared hydrogels and dispersion of the magnetic nanoparticles in the hydrogel network were examined by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The particle size of the formed magnetic nanoparticles has been confirmed by Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Transmission electron microscope (TEM), and it was found to be smaller in loading co-precipitation technique than irradiation technique. The HEMA-Gelatin-Fe3O4 has higher particle size than HEMA-Agar-Fe3O4 (HAF). Finally, the drug loading capacities of the magnetic nanoparticles and their releasing dependence on different pH were investigated with doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) as an anticancer drug model.