Studies of magnetic alginate-based electrospun matrices crosslinked with different methods for potential hyperthermia treatment

The magnetic electrospun mats were lately established as an innovative biomaterial for hyperthermic cancer treatment. Unlike those surface-modified magnetic nanoparticles that may not firmly adhere onto the tumor for long-term duration, the magnetic mats with nanofibrous structure can promote cell adhesion and kill the tumor directly within an alternating magnetic field. However, most magnetic electrospun mats were fabricated using non-biodegradable polymers and organic solvents, causing the problems of removal after therapy and the suspected biotoxicity associated with residual solvent. Alginate (SA) was utilized in this investigation as the main material for electrospinning because of being biodegradable and water-soluble. The alginate-based electrospun mats were then treated by an ionic or a covalent crosslinking method, and then followed by chelation with Fe/Fe for chemical coprecipitation of FeO magnetic nanoparticles. Significant less cytotoxicity was noted on both liquid extracts from the ionic-crosslinked (FeO-SA/PEO) and covalent-crosslinked (FeO-SA/PVA) magnetic electrospun mats as well as the surface of FeO-SA/PVA. In vitro hyperthermia assay indicated that the covalent-crosslinked magnetic alginate-based mats reduced tumor cell viability greater than FeO nanoparticles. Such magnetic electrospun mats are of potential for hyperthermia treatment by endoscopic/surgical delivery as well as serving as a supplementary debridement treatment after surgical tumor removal.