Synthesis of Hybrid Gold/Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Block Copolymer Micelles for Imaging, Drug Delivery, and Magnetic Hyperthermia

In our study, hybrid gold/iron oxide loaded thermoresponsive micelles were synthesized for combined hyperthermia and chemotherapy, and optical imaging. Polymeric micelles made of amphiphilic block copolymer of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide)-block-poly(epsiv-caprolactone) were conjugated with gold/iron oxide particles which are self-assembled at the hydrophobic polymer core. Thermal sensitivity and magnetic and optical properties of the hybrid gold/iron oxide micelles were investigated for the combined therapy and optical imaging.