Optimal Fabrication Conditions of Chitosan-Fe3O4-Gold Nanoshells as an Anticancer Drug Delivery Carriers

Abstract

A drug delivery system was designed to maximize the treatment effect for effective drug targeting to specific regions. Drug delivery carriers should safely transport drugs to a specific region in the body. As a nontoxic biocompatible polymer obtained by deacetylation of chitin, chitosan is suitable for use as an anticancer agent delivery carrier. Using gold as an additional nanoparticles is useful as it forms a nanocomplex comparatively quickly when linked with chitosan because the nanoparticle has a negative charge. Additionally, when external energy is applied, gold-coated nano-complexes generate heat to emit the absorbed drugs because of their unique metallic properties. Fe3O4 is an oxidized nano size metal with excellent magnetic properties; unlike other metals, it is nontoxic. In this study, the quantities of the reductant, catalyst, and solvent inside the chitosan-Fe3O4-gold nanoshell generated by ionic interactions between the amine, an end group of chitosan, and the metalic nanoparticles were altered and changes to the system evaluated to identify optimal reaction conditions for the drug delivery carrier, which were as follows: 30 mu L of 16.5 wt % ascorbic acid, 1.5 mL of 1 wt % gold solution, and 30 mu L of 28 wt % ammonium hydroxide.