Hollow superparamagnetic PLGA/Fe3O4 composite microspheres for lysozyme adsorption.

ABSTRACT

Uniform hollow superparamagnetic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/Fe(3)O(4) composite microspheres composed of an inner cavity, PLGA inner shell and Fe(3)O(4) outer shell have been synthesized by a modified oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion-solvent evaporation method using Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles as a particulate emulsifier. The obtained composite microspheres with an average diameter of 2.5 µm showed excellent monodispersity and stability in aqueous medium, strong magnetic responsiveness, high magnetite content (>68%), high saturation magnetization (58 emu g(-1)) and high efficiency in lysozyme adsorption.