Facile synthesis of biocompatible superparamagnetic mesoporous nanoparticles for imageable drug delivery

• Iron oxide nanocrystals were precipitated in the pores of the porous silicon.
• The nanocomposite possessed high T2 relaxivity, pore volume and surface area.
• The nanocomposite were PEGylated without compromising the magnetic properties.
• The nanoparticles could be used in MRI imageable drug delivery applications.

Superparamagnetic mesoporous silicon nanoparticles have a huge potential in drug delivery and diagnostics, i.e., in theranostics. These particles can carry high drug payloads, they can be targeted by external magnetic fields, they can be imaged by magnetic resonance imaging and they are biocompatible. In the present study, we demonstrate a fast and simple synthesis procedure to produce superparamagnetic mesoporous nanoparticles by precipitating iron oxide nanocrystals inside the pores of porous silicon. Subsequently, polyethylene glycol molecules with two different molecular sizes were conjugated onto the external surfaces of the composite nanoparticles to improve the colloidal stability of the suspension without compromising the magnetic properties of the composite. The developed nanoparticles possessed many advantageous properties such as superparamagnetic behavior, high T2 relaxivity, high pore volume and modifiable surface chemistry. In addition, the present method is more straightforward and versatile than the previous methods published, preserving the pore volume larger and accessible for high drug loadings.

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