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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
1

Establishing a method for modulating progesterone using a nanoparticle-based system

Marchando, Sydney H. 24 May 2023 (has links)
Hormones play a crucial role in promoting and maintaining many important processes. Progesterone, in particular, is involved in reproductive health, pregnancy maintenance, and hormone-dependent cancers. Many hormonal-based therapeutics are delivered systemically, resulting in side effects for the user or the development of resistance to the delivered agent. This project sought to develop a progesterone-specific nanoparticle-based system for localized modulation of progesterone. The aims included development of the particle, with the use of anti-progesterone antibodies, development of a measurement system to determine relevant, physiological levels of progesterone to validate the proof-of-concept studies, and testing of the particle against the developed progesterone measurement system. The development of the particle progressed in stages, beginning with the generation of oleic acid-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). Much of the particle development efforts focused on the initial thermal decomposition reaction utilized to develop these SPIONs. Optimization focused on improvement of synthesis parameters to improve yield and reduce particle polydispersity, with reaction modifications resulting in improvement of yield more than threefold, a reduction in particle polydispersity, and an increase in the uniformity of particle morphology. The next phase of particle design was the generation of citric acid-coated SPIONs, followed by addition of polyethylene glycol with active sites for the conjugation of anti-progesterone antibodies. Finally, antibodies were successfully conjugated to the surface of the particles, validated with protein absorbance at 280 nm. Additionally, several standard curves for progesterone, ranging in concentration from 0 to 50 g/mL, with values of the coefficient of determination for the linear curves greater than 0.9 for all the tested methods, were generated. Specifically, standard curves were generated in ethanol, as well as ethanol diluted in both water and phosphate buffered saline to better replicate physiological conditions. All three solutions resulted in linear standard curves for confident determination of the concentration of solutions of progesterone. Finally, the ability of the particles to bind to progesterone was successfully validated using UV absorbance at 241 nm by comparing the progesterone remaining after wash steps for antibody-particles, blank-particles, and the progesterone standard solution. This project resulted in the successful development of anti-progesterone antibody conjugated nanoparticles, validation of the specificity of the particles for progesterone, linear standard curves for progesterone in a variety of solutions, and optimization of the oleic acid SPION synthesis reaction. Future efforts should focus on the detection of progesterone at concentrations below 200 ng/mL, as this was a primary challenge in both the development of the progesterone concentration assay and the testing of the affinity of the particles for progesterone. Future research should focus on the optimization of the antibody-conjugation process to maximize coating density while minimizing loss of unconjugated antibody and further development of the testing conditions to determine the duration of treatment and the strength of the affinity of the particles for progesterone. / 2025-05-24T00:00:00Z
2

Water-based Synthesis of Superparamagnetic X-ray Fluorescent Contrast Agents / Ruthenium-SPIONs konjugerar som kontrastmedel i dubbelläge

Cortés García, Daniel January 2022 (has links)
Nowadays, nanomedicine is one of the most important application areas fornanoparticles (NPs), where the design and synthesis of new hybrid nanostructures have attracted much interest, when combining properties and functionalities from different constituents. For example, they have been extensivelyused for dual-mode imaging. In this work, a water-based synthesis of hybridNPs with co-precipitation method was studied. To obtain superparamagnetichybrid NPs for X-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT), severalhybridization mechanisms were followed, combining the superparamagneticbehavior of iron oxide NPs with active X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elements –Rh or Ru. The NP surface had to be engineered to improve the NP stabilityand dispersion in water, and to grant high biocompatibility. The resulting hybrid nanostructures exhibit promising characteristics for dual-mode imagingand hyperthermia treatments. We present on the details of the synthetic process, as well as the characterization of the synthesized nanomaterials / Nanomedicin är för närvarande ett av de viktigaste tillämningsområdena för nanopartiklar. Design och syntes av nya nanostrukturer som kombinerar egenskaper från olika beståndsdelar, såsom hybridnanopartiklar, harväckt stort intresse. Nanopartiklarna används exempelvis i hög utsträckningvid dual-mode imaging. I föreliggande arbete undersöktes en vattenbaseradsyntes av hybridnanopartiklar genom samfällning. För att erhålla superparamagnetiska hybridnanopartiklar för Röntgenfluorescenstomografi (RFT) genomfördes olika hybridiseringsmetoder som kombinerade det superparamagnetiska beteendet hos nanopartiklarna med aktiva element av röntgenfluorescens (XRF) - antingen Rh eller Ru. Ytan på nanopartiklarna konstrueradesför att förbättra stabiliteten och spridningen hos dessa samt för att säkerställahög biokompabilitet. De framtagna hybridnanostrukturerna uppvisar lovande egenskaper för dual-mode imaging och hypotermibehandling. Detaljernakring syntesprocessen presenteras tillsammans med egenskaperna hos de syntetiserade nanomaterialen.
3

STUDIES OF NOVEL `MOLECULAR-SWITCH' MAGNETIC RESONANCE CONTRAST AGENTS AND PLASMA POLYMER THIN FILMS

Buck, Laura E. 01 May 2011 (has links)
This paper presents the results of a continuing investigation of several functionalized SPION MR contrast agents and the solid state NMR studies of plasma polymerized Allyl Alcohol thin films. Several species of functionalized SPIONs were tested; the most successful SPIONs were the melamine dendron, polyimidazole, and conjugated nucleic acid SPIONs. The study of the MR responses of the melamine dendron SPIONs determined that these SPIONs undergo reversible clustering and that their pH sensitive MR responses are due to increased clustering at pH> 4. The MR responses of the polyimidazole functionalized SPIONs (both the dopamine and carboxylate linked) indicate a pH sensitive MR response well within the physiological regime (inflection point pH ~6) as well as excellent baseline relaxivities. However, perhaps due to the low polyimidazole loading onto the SPION core, these agents were very sensitive to ionic environment. CPMAS studies of pulsed plasma polymerized allyl alcohol thin films indicated that the hydrophobic films had a more ordered structure than the hydrophilic films; however, all poly-allyl alcohol thin films had a highly amorphous structure. The use of synthetic mica as a substrate for CPMAS studies of polymer thin films is also discussed.
4

Nanoparticules de magnétite fonctionnalisées pour l'imagerie bimodale IRM/TEP / Functionnalized magnetite nanoparticles for bimodal imaging MRI/PET

Thomas, Guillaume 27 October 2015 (has links)
Nanoparticules de magnétite fonctionnalisées pour l’imagerie bimodale IRM/TEPLes nanoparticules d’oxydes de fer superparamagnétiques (SPIONs en anglais) font l’objet de recherches intenses dans le domaine biomédical, notamment comme nanomédicament et agent de contraste T2 en imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM). Au cours de cette étude, des nanoparticules de magnétite (Fe3O4) à destination de l’imagerie IRM/TEP (Tomographie par Emission de Positons) ont été développées. Dans un premier temps, des SPIONs modifiées en surface, stables et superparamagnétiques ont été synthétisées via un dispositif hydrothermal en continu. A leur surface ont été greffées, durant la synthèse, des molécules hydrophiles : l’acide citrique, la LDOPA, le DHCA et le PHA. La fonctionnalisation des nanoparticules a été optimisée en modifiant des paramètres de synthèse tels que la température et le lieu de mélange, occasionnant des modifications de morphologie, taille et phase. Dans un second temps, pour améliorer leur stabilité et furtivité, des polymères de type PolyEthylène Glycol (PEG) ont été greffés à leur surface, deux longueurs de chaîne ont été évaluées. Pour une application en TEP, des macrocycles, complexant le radionucléide 64Cu, tels que le MANOTA, le NODAGA et le DOTA ont été couplés à ces SPIONs. Les essais de radiomarquage sont concluants. Ces nanohybrides, pleinement caractérisés (MET, XPS, IR, DLS, potentiels zêta, ATG, Raman) sont très prometteurs pour le diagnostic via l’imagerie bimodale IRM/TEM, notamment le composé Fe3O4-LDOPA-NODAGA (øDLS = 85±1 nm, r2 = 197±7 mM.s-1, 87% 64Cu). Des études préliminaires de cytotoxicité et génotoxicité de SPIONs modifiés par de l'APTES ont également été réalisées via des biotests très sensibles et novateurs. / Functionalized magnetite nanoparticles for bimodal MRI/PET imagingSuperParamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been widely studied in the biomedical field due to their promising application as nanodrugs and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) contrast agents (T2). In this study, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles have been developed for use as contrast agents for MRI/PET (Positron emission tomography) double imaging. First, functionalized stable superparamagnetic SPIONs have been synthesized in a continuous hydrothermal reactor. During the synthesis, hydrophilic agents (citric acid, LDOPA, DHCA and PHA) have been grafted on the surface of the nanoparticles. The functionalization of the nanoparticles has been optimized by modifying various synthesis parameters such as the temperature and the addition sequence of the organic molecules. The morphology, the size and the structure of the nanoparticles have been shown to depend on these different parameters. Then PolyEthylene Glycol (PEG) polymers have been grafted on their surface to make them stealth and biocompatible. Two different lengths have been considered. For PET imagery, macrocycles which are chelating agents of the 64Cu radionuclide such as MANOTA, NODAGA and DOTA have been grafted on these SPIONs. The radiochemical purities are very conclusive. These nanohybrids have been extensively characterized (TEM, XPS, IR, DLS, ?-potential, TGA, Raman) and are very promising as a diagnostic tool for bimodal imaging MRI/PET in particular the Fe3O4-LDOPA-NODAGA nanoplatform (øDLS = 85±1 nm, r2 = 197±7 mM.s-1, 87% 64Cu). Preliminary cytotoxicity and genotoxicity studies on SPIONs modified by APTES have also been performed via very sensitive and innovative biotests.
5

Investigation of Nanoparticles for Use in Microwave Systems in Biomedicine

Taghavi, Houra 03 October 2013 (has links)
This research focuses on the microwave properties of nanoparticles for use as contrast and hyperthermia agents. Currently, visible light is used for irradiation of nanoparticles as hyperthermia agents. Additionally, visible/Near-infrared light is used for photoacoustic tomography (PAT) imaging. Compared to optical wavelengths, frequencies in microwave range transmit through tissue with high penetration depth . Thus, deep cancerous cells and malignant tissue may be treated and imaged. These nanoparticles could enable the use of a hybrid microwave/acoustic technique known as thermoacoustic tomography. Here, quantitative measurements of the heat generation in super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPIONs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) induced by microwave energy at 3 GHz, are presented and compared. Based on our experiments, SPIONs are the most efficient nanoparticles for microwave heating. Very high concentrations of SPIONs are able to convert microwave energy into heat about 22° C more than DI-water. AuNPs, which support plasmon resonances, do not provide heat under microwave irradiation as predicted by our computational analysis based on Mie Theory. AuNCs are a new form of ultra-small (<2.5 nm) AuNPs which do not support plasmonic resonances and have supra-molecular properties such as sub-conduction band transitions. Interestingly, AuNCs have the potential to absorb microwave energy and may provide an alternative to SPIONs. These nanoparticles had not yet been studied before in this frequency region. In addition, the absorption coefficient of nanoparticles were calculated using complex permittivity data from a dip probe kit and a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) in a broad band range from 500 MHZ to 10 GHz. This method allows identification of best frequency region with highest penetration depth. In the last step, the nanoparticles with different concentrations were tested as exogenous contrast agents in a Thermoacoustic Tomography (TAT) system. TAT utilizes the penetration depth of microwave energy while producing high resolution images through acoustic waves. The addition of an exogenous contrast agent improves image quality by more effectively converting microwave energy to heat. The experiment reveals that the time resolved thermoacoustic signal (TA) from SPIONs is stronger than AuNPs and AuNCs and thus, the image contrast produced by SPIONs is stronger than the two other aforementioned nanoparticles.
6

Nanoparticules d'oxydes de fer PEGylées pour la délivrance de la doxorubicine : développement et évaluation de leur potentiel théragnostique. / PEGylated iron oxide nanoparticles for doxorubicin delivery : development and evaluation of a potential theragnostic system

Gautier, Juliette 19 June 2013 (has links)
Des nanoparticules d’oxydes de fer superparamagnétiques (SPIONs) PEGylées ont servi de plateforme pour la formulation de nanovecteurs théragnostiques pour la délivrance d’un agent anticancéreux, la doxorubicine (DOX). Le chargement de la DOX sur les nanovecteurs à l’aide d’un complexe avec l’ion fer (II) a été optimisé. Ce complexe se dissocie en milieu acide, typique des compartiments intracellulaires. La spectroscopie Raman exaltée de surface (SERS) a confirmé que les nanovecteurs libèrent la DOX sous forme non complexée. La cytotoxicité in vitro induite par la libération de la DOX a été évaluée sur différentes lignées cellulaires de cancer du sein, et comparée à celle de la DOX en solution. Les voies d’internalisation des nanovecteurs ont été explorées en microscopie électronique en transmission (MET), et le devenir intracellulaire de la DOX a été suivi en imagerie confocale multispectrale (ICMS). Enfin, un protocole thérapeutique in vivo chez la souris tumorisée a permis d’évaluer la capacité de la nanoformulation à limiter la croissance tumorale, la possibilité d’un ciblage magnétique, et la réduction des effets secondaires induits par la DOX. / PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were used as a platform to build theranostic nanovectors for the delivery of an anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX). The DOX loading on nanocarriers via a DOX-iron (II) complex was optimized. The complex dissociates at low pH, typical of intracellular compartments. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) confirmed that the nanovectors released DOX under free form. In vitro cytotoxicity due to DOX loaded on nanocarriers was performed on different breast cancer cells, and compared to that of DOX in solution. Internalization pathways of nanovectors were explored with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and intracellular fate of DOX was monitored by confocal spectral imaging (CSI). To finish, a therapeutical protocol was performed on tumorized mice, in order to evaluate the efficacy of the nanoformulation on tumor reduction, the possibility of magnetic targeting, and the decrease of side effects induced by DOX.
7

Developing New Techniques for Investigating Static and Dynamic Magnetic Degrees of Freedom

Sheffield, Matthew E. January 2018 (has links)
No description available.
8

Μελέτη των παραμέτρων της σύνθεσης υβριδικών κολλοειδών νανοκρυστάλλων με υπερπαραμαγνητικές ιδιότητες για την ανάπτυξη πολυλειτουργικών συστημάτων ελεγχόμενης χορήγησης αντικαρκινικών ουσιών

Σεργίδης, Ανδρέας 28 May 2015 (has links)
Η Πακλιταξέλη (PTX) αποτελεί ένα ευρέως διαδεδομένο αντινεοπλασματικό φάρμακο και ενδείκνυται σε μεταστατικό καρκίνο του μαστού, καρκίνο ωοθηκών, μη μικροκυτταρικό καρκίνο του πνεύμονα και σε σάρκωμα Kaposi ασθενών με AIDS. Παρ’ όλα αυτά, η σημαντική τοξικότητα που εμφανίζει (μυελοκαταστολή, νευροτοξικότητα, αντιδράσεις υπερευαισθησίας), υπογραμμίζει την αναγκαιότητα για μορφοποίησή της σε Συστήματα Ελεγχόμενης Χορήγησης Φαρμάκων (DDS), με σκοπό τη μείωση των ανεπιθύμητων ενεργειών και την αύξηση της βιοδιαθεσιμότητας του φαρμάκου. Τα πολυμερικά μικκύλια έχουν μελετεθεί εκτενώς τα τελευταία χρόνια ως Συστήματα Ελεγχόμενης Χορήγησης Φαρμάκων. Η ενσωμάτωση υπερπαραμαγνητικών νανοκρυσταλλιτών οξειδίου του σιδήρου (SPIONs) στον πυρήνα των PTX-μικκυλίων, παρέχει τη δυνατότητα μαγνητικής στόχευσης του φαρμάκου στην επιθυμητή περιοχή δράσης, καθώς και τη θεραπεία του καρκίνου μέσω επαγωγής μαγνητικής υπερθερμίας, με την εφαρμογή εναλλασσόμενου μαγνητικού πεδίου. Επιπλεόν, η χρήση των SPIONs ως σκιαγραφικά μέσα (Τ2-contrast enhancement) στη μαγνητική τομογραφία πυρηνικού συντονισμού (MRI), εξασφαλίζει το πλεονέκτημα ταυτόχρονης διάγνωσης και θεραπείας (Theranostics), αποκαλύπτοντας την πολυλειτουργικότητα των συστημάτων αυτών. Οι συγκεκριμένοι νανοφορείς, έχοντας μικρό μέγεθος (100-200nm), θεωρούνται κατάλληλοι για να αποφύγουν την οψωνινοποίηση απο τις λιποπρωτεϊνες του αίματος, την επίθεση απο τα φαγοκύτταρα του Δικτυοενδοθηλιακού συστήματος (RES) καθώς και την ταχεία νεφρική κάθαρση, με αποτέλεσμα την παρατεταμένη κυκλοφορία τους στο αίμα (stealth systems) και την εκλεκτική πρόσληψη τους απο τους συμπαγείς καρκινικούς όγκους, μέσω του φαινομένου της ενισχυμένης διαπερατότητας και κατακράτησης (EPR effect). Οι ιδιότητες αυτές, καθιστούν τα συγκεκριμένα συστήματα πολύτιμα εργαλεία στον τομέα της νανοϊατρικής. Η παρούσα μεταπτυχιακή διατριβή πραγματεύεται τη σύνθεση υδρόφοβων SPIONs μέσω της τεχνικής της θερμικής αποικοδόμησης. Μελετήθηκαν οι συνθετικές παράμετροι (πρόδρομη ένωση, ποσότητα ελαϊκού οξέος, θερμοκρασία και διάρκεια αντίδρασης, ρυθμός αύξησης της θερμοκρασίας κ.α) που επηρεάζουν το μέγεθος, το σχήμα και τη διασπορά του μεγέθους των σχηματιζομένων νανοκρυσταλλιτών (5-13nm, σ: 10-20%), καθώς διαδραματίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στη μαγνητική συμπεριφορά των υβριδικών νανονοφορέων. Στη συνέχεια, πραγματοποιήθηκε σύνθεση υβριδικών νανοφορέων με εγκλωβισμό των SPIONs σε πολυμερικά μικκύλια. Η παρασκευή των υπερπαραμαγνητικών μικκυλίων επιτελέστηκε με την τεχνικη solvent diffusion and evaporation (nanoprecipitation), με χρήση του αμφίφιλου συμπολυμερούς πολυ(γαλακτικό οξύ)-πολυ(αιθυλενογλυκόλη) (PLA-PEG). Στον υδρόφοβο πυρήνα των μικκυλίων (PLA) δεσμεύονται υδρόφοβες ενώσεις (PTX, SPIONs), ενώ το υδρόφιλο κέλυφος (PEG) προσδίδει κολλοειδή σταθερότητα σε υδατικά μέσα (δομή πυρήνα-κελύφους). Διερευνήθηκαν διάφορες συνθετικές παράμετροι (μοριακό βάρος συμπολυμερούς, ποσότητα SPIONs, ρυθμός προσθήκης οργανικής φάσης κ.α) και προσδιορίστηκαν οι βέλτιστες συνθήκες για την παρασκευή υπερπαραμαγνητικών μικκυλίων μεγέθους <200nm, με αξιοσημείωτη κολλοειδή σταθερότητα (μέχρι και έξι μήνες), σε συνθήκες παρόμοιες με αυτές του ανθρώπινου πλάσματος (pH: 7.4, ιοντική ισχύς: 0.15Μ). Στο επόμενο στάδιο της παρούσας εργασίας, μελετήθηκαν οι παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τη φόρτωση-ενκαψυλίωση της PTX και των SPIONs στα πολυμερικά μικκύλια (ποσότητα PTX, ποσότητα και μέγεθος SPIONs, μοριακό βάρος PLA-PEG, ρυθμός προσθήκης οργανικής φάσης κ.α), σε φυσιολογικές συνθήκες (pH:7.4, ιοντική ισχύς: 0.15Μ). Αναπτύχθηκε πρωτόκολλο μέσω του οποίου έγινε κατορθωτός ο διαχωρισμός των μαγνητικών νανοφορέων απο τους μη μαγνητικούς, καθώς και ο υπολογισμός της φόρτωσης-ενκαψυλίωσης PTX και SPIONs ξεχωριστά, τόσο στους μαγνητικούς και μη μαγνητικούς νανοφορείς, όσο και στο μέιγμα αυτών. Οι συγκεκριμένοι νανοφορείς χαρακτηρίζονται απο εξαιρετικά υψηλή απόδοση ενκαψυλίωσης φαρμάκου (93 %wt.) και φόρτωση φαρμάκου που ανέρχεται στο 4.8 %wt. Oι αμιγώς μαγνητικοί νανοφορείς επιδεικνύουν υψηλή απόδοση ενκαψυλίωσης νανοκρυσταλλιτών (70 %wt.), ενώ η φόρτωση σε φάρμακο και SPIONs ανέρχεται σε 5.2 και 20 %wt. αντίστοιχα. Σε αμφότερες τις περιπτώσεις οι νανοφορείς, μεγέθους (υδροδυναμική διάμετρος) 170nm, χαρακτηρίζονται απο ικανοποιητική μαγνητική συμπεριφορά. Εξετάστηκε η επίδραση του μεγέθους των νανοκρυσταλλιτών στη μαγνητική συμπεριφορά των νανοφορέων. Οι αμιγώς μαγνητικοί νανοφορείς με μεγαλύτερο μέγεθος SPIONs παρουσιάζουν καλύτερη μαγνητική συμπεριφορά. Τέλος, πραγματοποιήθηκαν μελέτες αποδέσμευσης του φαρμάκου σε PBS (0.14Μ, pH:7.4) στους 37oC και διερευνήθηκε η επίδραση της εφαρμογής εναλλασσόμενου μαγνητικού πεδίου στην αποδέσμευση της PTX απο τους μαγνητικούς νανοφορείς (Triggered Drug Release). Σε κάθε περίπτωση, παρατηρήθηκε ελεγχόμενη αποδέσμευση του φαρμάκου για 24 ώρες, σε συνθήκες που προσομοιάζουν με αυτές του πλάσματος. Ο φυσικοχημικός χαρακτηρισμός των νανοφορέων πραγματοποιήθηκε με HPLC, DLS, TGA, TEM και μαγνητοφόρηση. / Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most successful anticancer drugs against a broad range of solid tumors, such as metastatic breast cancer, ovarian cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer and AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma. However, the serious systematic side effects of PTX (myelosuppression, neurotoxicity, hypersensitivity) underline the need for formulation of PTX in Drug Delivery Systems (DDS), in order to reduce the side effects and increase the bioavailability of the drug. Among DDS, polymeric micelles have drawn much attention due to their great flexibility in tuning drug solubility, micelle size, targeted drug delivery and stability. Incorporation of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanocrystals (SPIONs) inside the core of drug-loaded polymeric micelles, imparts to the final Drug Delivery System the prospect of physical (magnetic) targeting, intrinsic therapeutic function (hyperthermia-based cancer therapy under alternating external magnetic field), T2-based contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and remotely triggered drug release. These core-shell polymeric micelles having small size (100-200nm), are considered appropriate for avoiding both opsonization, macrophages attack by ReticuloEndothelial System (RES) and rapid renal clearance, thus allowing micelles to be taken up preferably by solid tumors through Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. Therefore, such nanoassemblies encode high potential in nanomedicine, due to their dual nature (Therapeutic+Diagnostic = Theranostics). In particular, we have studied the synthesis of organophilic SPIONs through thermal decomposition. The synthetic parameters (precursor, precursor:oleic acid ratio, reaction temperature and duration, heat rate, etc.) affecting the size, shape and size distribution of the nanocrystals have also been examined thoroughly, since they play a key-role concerning the magnetic behavior of the final hybrid. Nanosized SPIONs with narrow size distribution were synthesized (5-13nm, σ: 10-20%). The preparation of poly(lactic acid)-block-poly(ethyleneglycol) (PLA-PEG) micelles encapsulating hydrophobic SPIONs, by varying the molecular weight of the polymers, the amount of SPIONs and the addition rate during micelle assembly, has also been investigated. The core-shell superparamagnetic micelles were prepared through solvent diffusion and evaporation technique (nanoprecipitation). PTX and SPIONs are being incorporated into the micelle’s hydrophobic core (PLA) through hydrophobic interactions, whereas the hydrophilic shell (PEG) stabilizes the micelles in aqueous dispersions, optimizing their colloidal stability and providing prolonged circulating time. The optimum parameters were determined, conferring to the micelles (Hydrodynamic Diameter < 200nm) high colloidal stability (up to six months) at biorelevant conditions (pH:7.4, ionic strenght: 0.15M). The next phase of the present master thesis focused on studying the factors (amount of PTX and SPIONs, molecular weight of PLA-PEG, addition rate, etc.) affecting the Loading of PTX and SPIONs into the polymeric micelles and how they can be fine-tuned towards high drug loading, while retaining their size at a scale where long circulation would not be precluded. Through protocol establishment, we have managed to separate the magnetic and non magnetic micelles, and to determine individually the loading of PTX and SPIONs for magnetic, non magnetic micelles, as well as for the mixture of them. The micelles’ mixture exhibits very high Drug Encapsulation Efficiency (93 %wt.) and 4.8 %wt. Drug Loading (D.L). Magnetic nanocarriers display high Magnetic Encapsulation Efficiency (70 %wt.), with D.L and Magnetic Loading of 5.2 and 20 %wt. respectively, In both cases, micelles demonstrate adequate magnetic behavior and small sizes (hydrodynamic diameter: 170nm), under conditions which simulate with human plasma (pH:7.4, ionic strenght: 0.15M). The effect of SPIONs’ size on the magnetic behavior of hybrid colloids, was also examined. Magnetic nanocarriers encapsulating SPIONs of greater size exhibit better magnetic behavior. Finally, we have conducted Drug release studies in PBS (0.14M, pH:7.4) at 37oC. The effect of SPIONs presence on the release profile of PTX, including triggered drug-release by application of AC magnetic field, has also been investigated. PTX-magnetic micelles exhibit Controlled Drug release for 24 hours. Several techniques have been used for the characterization of such nanoassemblies, like: HPLC, DLS, TGA, TEM, XRD, Magnetophoresis and Triggered Drug release by application of AC magnetic field.

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