Many groups have already investigated the use of NiCu magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as mediators for magnetic fluid hyperthermia, but we were the first to report the potential of NiCu MNPs as bimodal therapeutic systems, capable of simultaneous magnetic hyperthermia (MH) and targeted drug delivery. The superparamagnetic nanoparticles have a magnetic core, which enables their manipulation through an external magnetic field, a biocompatible layer, providing a surface for attachment of suitable receptors for targeting specific tissues, and a therapeutic load either incorporated inside the coating pores or hosted within internal cavities of the particles. In this study, we incorporated three model drugs with different pharmacological activity into superparamagnetic Ni_xCu_1−x nanoparticles. The superparamagnetic Ni_xCu_1−x nanoparticles were prepared using a sol–gel method, and exhibited a Curie temperature (T_C) in the therapeutic range for use in MH. The nanoparticles were prepared in a silica matrix to avoid their agglomeration during thermal treatment and to provide suitable compartments for incorporation inside the pores. The release of the incorporated drugs paracetamol, bupivacaine hydrochloride, and pentoxifylline was studied using an in vitro release system, where UV–visible spectrophotometry (UV/Vis) was used for quantification of the released drug. The Ni_xCu_1−x nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/SDTA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and magnetic measurements. Surface area and pore size were determined by using BET analysis. Finally, the biocompatibility of the samples was tested on human skin-derived fibroblasts.

许多小组已经研究了使用 NiCu 磁性纳米粒子 (MNPs) 作为磁流体热疗的介质，但我们是第一个报告 NiCu MNPs 作为双峰治疗系统的潜力，能够同时进行磁热疗 (MH) 和靶向药物递送. 超顺磁性纳米粒子有一个磁芯，可以通过外部磁场进行操作的粒子。在这项研究中，我们将三种具有不同药理活性的模型药物加入到超顺磁性 Ni _x Cu _{1− x}纳米粒子。超顺磁性 Ni _x Cu _{1- x}纳米粒子采用溶胶-凝胶法制备，居里温度 ( T _C ) 在治疗范围内，可用于 MH。纳米颗粒在二氧化硅基质中制备，以避免它们在热处理过程中聚集，并提供合适的隔室用于结合到孔内。使用体外释放系统研究掺入的药物扑热息痛、盐酸布比卡因和己酮可可碱的释放，其中使用紫外-可见分光光度法 (UV/Vis) 对释放的药物进行量化。Ni _x Cu _{1− x}使用 X 射线衍射分析、热重分析 (TGA/SDTA)、傅里叶变换红外光谱、扫描电子显微镜和磁测量来表征纳米颗粒。通过使用 BET 分析确定表面积和孔径。最后，在人类皮肤来源的成纤维细胞上测试了样品的生物相容性。