Magnetic microspheres, 2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan/Fe3O4/halloysite nanotubes/ofloxacin (HACC/Fe3O4/HNTs/OFL), for the controlled release of OFL were prepared by in situ crosslinking with glutaraldehyde in the spray-drying process. The magnetic microspheres were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and a magnetometer. Various parameters influencing the encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and in vitro controlled release properties of the magnetic microspheres for OFL were also studied. Many stripes were formed and some tubular HNTs could be seen at higher magnification on the surface of the HACC/Fe3O4/HNTs/OFL magnetic microspheres. The magnetic microspheres show superparamagnetic property and fast magnetic response. The encapsulation efficiency and the cumulative release of OFL are closely related to HACC concentration, HNTs contents and crosslinking density. The release of OFL follows the first-order kinetics.
Keywords: Controlled release; Halloysite; Magnetic microspheres; Quaternized chitosan; Spray drying.
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