Micelle-like Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Magnetically Enhanced Tumor Chemotherapy.

Using the coordination bonds between transition metal atoms and electron-rich functional groups, we synthesized two kinds of micelle-like nanoparticles. Using magnetic FeO as the core, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brushes were grafted via activators regenerated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (ARGET-ATRP), which formed micelle-like magnetic nanoparticles FeO/PAA-PMMA with a hydrophobic outer layer and FeO/PMMA-PAA with a hydrophilic outer layer. Both the micelle-like nanoparticles had amphiphilic properties and can be used to load hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs.