Studying distribution of magnetic nanoparticles in polymeric nanoparticles to optimize magnetic properties and controlled release of drugs.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have gained significant attention in biomedical applications ranging from diagnostics to therapeutics such as in magnetic hyperthermia, magnetic particle imaging, targeted delivery of active agents extending to more recent and innovative applications of nanowarming. IONPs have reduced stability in vivo, and therefore, are often covered with a biocompatible polymer such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), to improve their biological applicability and chemical stability using flash nanoprecipitation, a rapid and scalable route. However, the formation mechanism to encapsulate highly magnetic IONPs is not well understood, and no 3D internal imaging of such particles have been done. It is crucial to understand the development of the polymer coating over the IONPs. We propose to conduct coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI) measurement at the ID10 beamline to decipher the internal core-shell structure of these particles.