Incorporation of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Nanocapsules

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) encapsulated in polymeric systems are promising materials for hyperthermia treatments and targeting drug delivery in cancer therapy. To improve the encapsulation efficiency of therapeutic drugs, high amounts of fatty acids can be incorporated into the polymer matrix. The effect of the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid (OA)/Crodamol (triacylglycerol of saturated fatty acids) ratio in the incorporation of MNPs in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocapsules by miniemulsion polymerization is investigated. The OA/Crodamol ratio affects polymerization kinetics, polymer microstructure, and nanocapsules morphology. Furthermore, MNPs are efficiently encapsulated in PMMA nanocapsules with high Crodamol content while preserving their super-paramagnetic behavior with considerable magnetization saturation values.