| dc.description.abstract | During the course of this study iron oxide nanoparticles, which have been researched for drug-targeted delivery, were synthesised via the co-precipitation method and characterised using various methods. This study focused on the role of relevant capping agents for the inhibition of agglomeration of the particles; chitosan, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly lactic glycolic acid (PLGA) were the capping agents of interest. The study is an assessment of the effects brought about the different capping agents used for this work. The prepared particles were then capped with the different capping agents followed by the loading of the drug curcumin. Various analytical methods were used to analyse the particles such as High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and zeta potential. PVA, chitosan and PLGA capped SPIONS were successfully prepared and verified by FT-IR spectrometry, various sizes were prepared almost ranging the same for the successfully prepared particles verified by XRD. The resultant particles were found to be spherical with an average particles size between 13- 22 nm. From the study it was concluded that the addition of the different capping agents resulted in the reduction of the intensity of the peaks in XRD, it was also found out the presence of the capping agents did not alter the crystalline phase of the particles. From the study it was also observed that higher saturation magnetization was experienced where PVA was used as the capping agents. | en_US |
