Design and characterization of a magnetite/PEI multifunctional nanohybrid as non-viral vector and cell isolation system.

It is described the reproducible formulation and complete physicochemical characterization of nanohybrids based on magnetite (FeO) cores embedded within a polyethylenimine (PEI) matrix. Particle size, surface electrical charge, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, and magnetic field-responsive behaviour characterizations defined that the 4:3 (FeO:PEI) weight proportion led to the best production performances of magnetically responsive nanocomposites in which the magnetic nuclei are completely covered by the polymeric shell. Agarose gel electrophoresis assays demonstrated the capacity of the FeO/PEI particles to condense, release, and protect the DNA against enzymatic degradation.