Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 March 2011
In this study we describe the preparation and the characterization of a complex material using β-cyclodextrin covalently bound to Ni-Zn ferrite to obtain a magnetically targetable drug carrier. The physical-chemical characterization was performed through Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, XRD, thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results pointed out that β-cyclodextrin is externally covalently bound to Ni-Zn ferrite. However it was also verified that the β-cyclodextrin cavity is free and can include bioactive agents. The most interesting feature of this approach is the combination of magnetic properties and the host:guest technology to obtain an efficient targetable drug carrier system.