Synthesis of Bovine Serum Albumin-Coated Magnetic Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as a Delivery System for Mitoxantrone

Abstract

In this study, a bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated magnetic single-walled carbon nanotube (mCNT) was synthesized using covalent functionalization. Mitoxantrone (MTO) was chosen as a model drug, and loading/release profiles of mCNTs were evaluated. To synthesize BSA-coated mCNT, 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl) carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide were used as cross-linking agents. The success of the functionalization process was demonstrated through various analysis techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, and scanning electron microscopy. The saturation magnetization of mCNT-BSA was 15.6 emu/g, indicating its potential for magnetically targeted drug delivery systems. Finally, MTO was physically loaded on the BSA-coated mCNT (mCNT-BSA) and the results were compared to those of mCNT. mCNT-BSA showed less drug loading capacity but more release response than mCNT. Considering drug release and cytotoxicity test results, MTO-loaded mCNT-BSA nanoparticles have great potential for cancer treatment.