Magnetically controlled drug targeting is a very effective way of local or regional antitumor treatment. In traditional way, magnetic material is used as targeting part in the drug delivery system. Generally, the magnetic targeting materials exist in powdered form. The magnetic powders and drug are wrapped up by polymer shell. This form may lead the drug to react with polymer because of the tight coupling and the activity of polymer.

In this thesis, we propose a method of fabricating iron oxide magnetic ceramic hollow nanofibers using concentric electrospinning. Magnetic ceramic hollow fibers can be used as both targeting part and carrier part in magnetic drug delivery system. Drug is placed in the internal part of ceramic nanotubes. Because of the stability of ceramic, the poss...[ Read more ]

Magnetically controlled drug targeting is a very effective way of local or regional antitumor treatment. In traditional way, magnetic material is used as targeting part in the drug delivery system. Generally, the magnetic targeting materials exist in powdered form. The magnetic powders and drug are wrapped up by polymer shell. This form may lead the drug to react with polymer because of the tight coupling and the activity of polymer.

In this thesis, we propose a method of fabricating iron oxide magnetic ceramic hollow nanofibers using concentric electrospinning. Magnetic ceramic hollow fibers can be used as both targeting part and carrier part in magnetic drug delivery system. Drug is placed in the internal part of ceramic nanotubes. Because of the stability of ceramic, the possibility of drug reacting with the carrier is greatly reduced. And the tube structure can also prevent the drug from reacting with healthy human tissue. The magnetic property concentrates the system in the area of interest by means of magnetic fields. By adding titanium oxide into the constituents of magnetic iron oxide fiber, we improve the hemocompatibility of fibers. Magnetic ceramic fiber will also be prepared.

By improving the coprecipitation method, we obtain iron oxide particles with smaller sizes. And these particles are added into electrospinning solution to produce magnetic organic/inorganic composite fibers. The organic part enhances the bio compatibility of the system, and the magnetic particles provide magnetic property for targeting use.

We did a series of characterization for the samples. The morphology of iron oxide nanoparticles, magnetic inorganic fibers, magnetic organic/ inorganic fibers, and magnetic inorganic hollow fibers were observed by scanning electron microscope. Energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize the composition of magnetic organic/ inorganic fibers and magnetic inorganic hollow fibers. The particle size distribution of iron oxide nanoparticles was shown by zeta potential analyzer.