MAGNETICALLY-DRIVEN RELEASE MEDIA COMPRISING OF CARBON NANOTUBE- NICKEL/NICKEL OXIDE CORE/SHELL NANOPARTICLE HETEROSTRUCTURES INCORPORATED IN POLYVINYL ALCOHOL

摘要

We report a simple synthetic approach for carbon nanotube (CNT)-Ni/NiO core/shell nanoparticles heterostructures (CNC heterostructures) in a single-step direct nucleation and air oxidation of Ni nanoparticles on multi-walled CNTs. Detailed characterization (SEM and TEM) of CNC heterostructure was carried out and as a next step these heterostructures were successfully incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel to result in a magnetic hydrogel (CNC heterostructure-PVA hydrogel), which could be deflected by 60° under a 0.2 T permanent magnet. In addition, CNC heterostructures were loaded (physically adsorbed) with L-histidine and then incorporated within the PVA hydrogel. This unique nanosystem was studied for the release of loaded L-histidine, with and without the external magnetic field. It was observed that the amount of histidine released from the hydrogel was increased by 12.9% under 0.2 T magnetic field as compared to the release without any magnetic field. Such a unique hybrid hydrogel incorporating magnetic CNC heterostructures hold great promise for smart drug delivery nanosystems.