Interfacial synthesis of magnetic PMMA@Fe3O4/Cu3(BTC)2 hollow microspheres through one-pot Pickering emulsion and their application as drug delivery

Abstract

In situ interfacial growth of nanoparticles induced by the Pickering emulsion is a novel and convenient method for preparing hybrids/composites with specific tasks. For the first time, magnetic PMMA@Fe₃O₄/Cu₃(BTC)₂ hollow microspheres were produced by one-pot Pickering emulsion using Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle (NP) stabilizer. The Fe₃O₄ Pickering emulsion provided a large oil/water interface area for the in situ growth of Cu₃(BTC)₂ nanocrystals and further interfacial polymerization of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The hollow hybrid microspheres showed synergetic multi-functions, including the magnetic separation property caused by Fe₃O₄ NPs, the reverse thermal expansion by PMMA, and the adsorption enhanced permeation by porous Cu₃(BTC)₂ NPs. When it was used as the drug carrier for ibuprofen, the good loading capacity and the controllable release duration confirmed its good properties. Moreover, all the realized synergetic advantages further reveled the potential promising applications of the interfacial synthesis by Pickering emulsion method.