Hybrid polyelectrolyte/Fe3O4 nanocapsules for hyperthermia applications

We validate here the applicability to hyperthermia of magnetic nanocapsules with a polyelectrolyte shell around a nanodroplet liquid core prepared by the sequential Layer-by-Layer adsorption of polyelectrolytes and magnetic nanoparticles, around a nanodroplet liquid core. Biocompatible polyelectrolytes are used: Poly L-lysine as the polycation and Poly Glutamic acid as the polyanion. The hyperthermia effect was demonstrated by applying a radio frequency (rf) magnetic field with maximum fields H up to 0.025 T and frequencies up to 430 kHz; we find sizeable heating effects, with heating rate up to 0.46°C/min. We also find effects of irradiation on capsules morphology that indicate their disruption, thus suggesting their potential use as drug nanocarriers. Therefore, these magnetically responsive nanocapsules could be a promising platform for multifunctional biomedical applications such as the controlled release of pharmaceuticals in combination with hyperthermia treatment.