Synthesis of magnetic porous hollow silica nanotubes for drug delivery

In this paper, we report a synthesis of magnetic porous hollow silica nanotubes (MPHSNTs) using sol-gel method. The MPHSNTs were fabricated by coating Fe3 O4 nanoparticles and silica on surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) modified CaCO3 nanoneedles surface under alkaline condition. CaCO3 nanoneedles and surfactant CTAB are introduced as nanotemplates to form the hollow and porous structures, respectively. After removing CTAB by calcination and etching CaCO3 nanoneedles away in diluted acetic acid, magnetic porous hollow silica nanotubes with Fe3 O4 nanoparticles embedded in the silica shell were achieved. The products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Superconducting quantum interference device measurement shows that the nanotubes exhibit superparamagnetism property at room temperature and ferromagnetism below the blocking temperature. Toxicity test was also performed for the magnetic nanocarriers, showing good bio-compatibility. Magnetic porous hollow silica nanotubes with advantages of high surface area, good bio-compatibility, and superparamagnetism are one of the novel drug nanocarriers for nanomedicine applications. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

Duke Scholars

Author James O'Connell McNamara Sr. Neurobiology