Multifunctional Biopolymer Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Protein Immobilization

Nanoparticles have attracted a great deal of attention because of their broad range of application in biotechnology and nanomedicine. In this paper, magnetic-fluorescent nanoparticles based on iron oxide and biopolymer (chitosan and carboxymethyl cellulose) were fabricated. Using a layer-by-layer approach, two core-shell type architectures could be formed in the nanoparticles: (1) fluorescent groups placed in the outer layer or (2) with-in the layers consisting of cationic poly-electrolyte. Both of these particles showed superparamagnetic and strong fluorescent properties. The nanoparticles had higher encapsulation efficiency and pH-sensitive drug release over a long time.