This work has focused on the synthesis of three nanosystems composed of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated either with a carboxylate platinum(IV) complex (PD = cis,cis, ) 2 Cl 2 (HOOCCH 2 CH 2 COO)(OH)]) or with platinum(II) complex functionalized dextrans (DexPt1 = [Pt(Dex-NH 2 )Cl 3 ] and DexPt2 = [Pt(Dex-NH 2 )(NH 3 ) 2 (H 2 O)]). All nanosystems have shown superparamagnetic behavior. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) has confirmed that the SPIONs were iron oxide phase and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has shown average size of 6 nm (M6). Characterization of the nanosystems by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP AES) has revealed the presence of platinum on their surface (M6@PD, 0.54 mmol g -1 of Fe and M6@CA@DexPt1-2, 0.32-1.20 mmol g -1 of Fe); infrared spectroscopy (IR) and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses (TG-DTA) have confirmed the presence of dextran. Furthermore, the colloidal properties of these nanosystems (M6@PD and M6@CA@DexPt1-2) have been evaluated in water and in PBS buffer. Although M6@PD has shown good colloidal dispersion in water in the pH range of 2.0-8.0, the system underwent rapid agglomeration in PBS buffer. The M6@CA@DexPt1-2 nanosystems have exhibited improved colloidal behavior both in water and in PBS, where hydrodynamic sizes were kept below 100 nm over a large pH range (2.0-12.0). Furthermore, the latter systems have displayed isoelectric points below pH 5.0 and low surface charges at pH 7.0 (ζ-potential = −10 mV) and therefore PBS did not affect their colloidal stability.Keywords: colloidal stability, dextran, iron oxide, platinum complexes, superparamagnetism
IntroductionSuperparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been widely investigated for biomedical purposes. Magnetic resonance imaging, 2-4 hyperthermia 5-7 and drug delivery [8][9][10][11][12] are some of the practical applications displayed by SPIONs. These nanomaterials are promising due to the biocompatibility of the iron oxide cores, e.g., magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) and maghemite (γ-Fe 2 O 3 ). 13 Furthermore, their surfaces can be easily modified, allowing for the tuning of pharmacokinetic properties. [14][15][16] One of the key features for biomedical applications of SPIONs is their aqueous colloidal stability. 17 Therefore, surface functionalization plays a relevant role on the balance of attractive forces, such as dispersion forces and dipole-dipole interactions that determine their agglomeration.18 Carboxylate-, phosphonate-and aminosilane-based derivatives have been widely used to coat SPIONs in order to prevent aggregation, mainly by electrostatic interactions due to the formation of an electrical double layer. [16][17][18][19] However, this kind of colloidal dispersion is strongly affected by physiological pH and ionic strength. 17 Coating nanoparticles with polymers, such as dextran (Dex) or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), is a judicious strategy to prevent SPIONs from aggregation, 13,20 diminishing opsonization and increasing circulat...