| خلاصه مقاله | 1. Introduction
Magnetic nano zeolites have been shown a good potential to use for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)1, drug delivery 2, and bimodal MR and optical imaging 3. Special structure of the nano zeolites provides appropriate space for paramagnetic gadolinium and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as MRI contrast materials. As a key point in MRI, magnetic nanoparticles should be coated with hydrophilic materials to increase their blood half-life 4. Therefore, among different type of zeolites, those who have high hydrophilic property (low Si to AL ratio) are suitable for MRI. On the other hand, using of hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) around the zeolite provides the possibility of binding the anticancer drug to the agent.
In this study, PEGylated magnetite ZSM-5 nano zeolite was synthesized and considered for contrast enhancement MRI and curcumin (anticancer drug) delivery.
2. Experimental
The nano zeolite (ZSM-5) was synthesized by microwave assisted hydrothermal method with Si/Al ratio of 25. To produce magnetite nano zeolite, as synthesized nano zeolite was added to the aqueous solution of FeCl3 .6H2O and FeCl2 .4H2O, and the pH of the solution was fixed around 10 at 80°C for 45 min, then citric acid was added and mixed for last 1h. Finally, the obtained sediment was PEGylated, filtered, dried, and loaded with curcumin. For MR imaging, the T2 weighted MR images of different concentrations of the nanocomposite were prepared to measure signal intensity, and subsequently calculate T2 relaxation times, and plot 1/T2 versus concentration graph. The release of curcumin from PEGylated magnetite nano zeolite was studied in PBS, placed into a dialysis bag at desired pH under stirring at 37 °C.
3. Results and Discussion
Figure 1a shows the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of PEGylated magnetite nano zeolite, and curcumin loaded one. Both characteristic peaks of ZSM-5 and PEG were appeared at both XRD patterns, and the similarity between them revealed the stable structure of the PEGylated magnetite nano zeolite during the curcumin loading. Curcumin loading process was completed after 48h of stirring at room temperature. In figure 1b, the release profile of curcumin from the nanocomposite is illustrated. The maximum extent of curcumin release was about 50% in 12h.
The T2 images of the nanocomposite samples with different concentrations are seen in figure 2. According to the figure, increasing of signal loss with increasing of nanocomposite concentration was seen. This is due to that magnetite nanoparticles have easy access to the water protons via the pores and channels of the nano zeolite. 1/T2 versus concentration graph showed a linear relationship with high slope which confirms the potential of the nanocomposite for MRI contrast enhancement.
Figure 2. MR image of the PEGylated magnetite nano ZSM-5
4. Conclusions
Special structure of the ZSM-5 nano zeolite provides considerably access of magnetite nanoparticles to the water protons and makes it suitable for MRI. Moreover, PEGylation of the magnetite ZSM-5 nano zeolite, loading and release performance of the curcumin from the nanocomposite revealed that it can be considered as promising candidate for targeted delivery of hydrophobic drugs by using magnetic field.
References
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