Synthesis and characterization of pectin-6-aminohexanoic acid-magnetite nanoparticles for drug delivery

•Successful synthesis of pectin and 6-aminohexanoic acid coated magnetite nanoparticles (MAP) using EDC/NHS chemistry.•Successful loading of curcumin in MAP nanoparticles.•The dispersions of the MAP and curcumin loaded MAP nanoparticles were stable in deionized water but the particles were aggregating in 0.9 % NaCl.•The dispersion of serum coated MAP nanoparticles was stable in 0.9% NaCl.

In this study, we have synthesized magnetic nanocomposites of magnetite nanoparticles coated with 6-aminohexanoic acid and pectin (MAP). The size of the aqueous dispersion of the nanocomposites was 147 nm with a Polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.32, and the nanocomposites were stable in NaCl up to a concentration of 0.45% (w/v) after which they aggregated. The dispersion of the nanocomposites was stable in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) in the presence of 5 and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Curcumin was used as a model drug to evaluate the potential of the nanocomposites for drug delivery applications. The release behavior of curcumin from the nanocomposites showed a biphasic pattern with initial burst release followed by a slow release, and the size of the aqueous dispersion of curcumin loaded nanocomposites was 159 nm with a PDI of 0.34.