One-step synthesis of magnetic chitosan for controlled release of 5-hydroxytryptophan

•One-step synthesis and incorporation of drug in magnetic chitosan.•Synthesis utilizes a cost-effective and environmentally friendly procedure.•Narrow size distribution of magnetic nanoparticles in the composite.•Composite is a basis for a magnetic pH triggered drug release system.

In this work, nanoparticles of chitosan embedded with 25% (w/w) of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (magnetite/maghemite) with narrow size-distribution and with a loading efficiency of about 80% for 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which is a chemical precursor in the biosynthesis of important neurotransmitters as serotonin, were synthesized with an initial mass ratio of 5-HTP/magnetic chitosan=1.2, using homogeneous precipitation by urea decomposition, in an efficient one-step procedure. Characterization of morphology, structure and surface were performed by XRD, TEM, FTIR, TGA, magnetization and zeta potential measurements, while drug loading and drug releasing were investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy. Kinetic drug release experiments under different pH conditions revealed a pH-sensitivecontrolled-release system, ruled by polymer swelling and/or particle dissolution.