Interaction between ketoconazole and human serum albumin on epoxy modified magnetic nanoparticles for drug delivery.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were modified with [3-(2,3-epoxy-propoxy)propyl] trimethoxy silane, which resulted in formation of epoxy groups on the particles surface. The epoxy functionalized SPIONs can bind to human serum albumin (HSA). The binding amount of HSA to epoxy modified SPIONs was found to be as 32.7 microM for 1 mg epoxy modified SPIONs at 280 and 342 nm of excitation and emission wavelengths by using fluorescence spectroscopy. Interaction of ketoconazole with HSA immobilized epoxy functionalized SPIONs was studied at 300 and 390 nm of excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively. Binding mechanism of ketoconazole and HSA was identified by Stern-Volmer equation. Thermodynamic parameters (deltaH, deltaS and deltaG) were also estimated for the interaction. Therefore, the nature of the binding forces was found to be as hydrophobic interaction. Protein and drug attachments were also examined by Infrared spectroscopy (IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). This study show that prepared albumin-based magnetic nanoparticles carrier systems represents an attractive strategy for drug delivery.