Caffeine: A novel green precursor for synthesis of magnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles and pH-sensitive magnetic alginate beads for drug delivery

Hydrogel beads are promising delivery systems for encapsulation and release of drugs due to the mild process of their fabrication from biopolymers. Magnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (MCFO, 9.72 nm in diameter) were synthesized via a co-precipitation method using caffeine as a new environmentally friendly material in order to alkalinize the medium. Drug-targeting Magnetic beads based on CoFe2O4 nanoparticles, sodium alginate and chlorpheniramine maleate (CPAM) were synthesized in the presence of Ca2+ ions to obtain ionic cross-linked magnetic hydrogel beads. Nanoparticles as well as produced magnetic beads were thoroughly characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, nanosizer and VSM techniques. The swelling ratio of beads indicated pH-dependent property with maximum water absorbing at pH 7.4. The in vitro release of beads exhibited significant behavior on the subject of nanoparticles concentration and alginate content. Biocompatibility of the CFO nanoparticles and MCFO/Alg beads are demonstrated through cytotoxicity test via MTT assay on U87 cell lines. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.