Preparation of Epoxy-Functionalized Magnetic Polymer Nanospheres for Magnetically Targeted Radiotherapy

Magnetic poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate)/Fe3O4 nanospheres with epoxy groups were prepared by modified one-step mini-emulsion polymerization in the presence of Fe3O4 ferrofluids. The products were characterized by fourier-transform infrared spectrum, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and vibrating sample magnetometer. After surface modification with diaminopropane, histidine was covalently linked to the amine group of magentic nanospheres using glutaraldehyde as crosslinker. Finally, the preliminary labeling study based on non-radioactive rhenium was carried out and the labeling efficiency reached 80.4%. Such magnetic nanospheres had promising potential in magnetically targeted radiotherapy of cancer.