New polyoxometalate/starch nanomaterial: synthesis, characterization and antitumoral activity

Abstract

Using a reversed-phase microemulsion polymerization method, polyoxometalate (POM) CoW₁₁TiO₄₀ loaded starch nanoparticles have been prepared and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra, UV-vis and ESR spectroscopy. The particle size of CoW₁₁TiO₄₀/starch was estimated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the size ranges by a 1000HSA MALVIRN Zetasizer instrument. The results show that the POMs retained the parent structure after encapsulated by starch microspheres, which are able to enhance the stability and antitumoral activity of POMs and also decrease the toxicity of the POM.