LAUSR

Abstract Passive devices that exhibit release of the drug on demand and have the potential to be switched off and on optimally and effectively are advantageous for the treatment of various diseases including diabetes, chronic pain, and cancer. To this end, drug loaded magnetic and non-magnetic microspheres were prepared herein from the natural, biodegradable and environmentally benign polymer, cellulose. These cellulose microspheres were prepared by dissolving the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumchloride (BmimCl) and dropping the cellulose solution in water to get the bare cellulose beads (BCBs), whereas the magnetic cellulose beads (MCBs) were prepared in situ through diffusing the BCBs in the solution of magnetite nanoparticles (MNP). A model drug, dopamine (DOPA) was loaded through incubating these beads in optimized drug solution. The encapsulation efficiency of these beads was checked at pH 7.4, and release kinetics was investigated. Drug release from the microspheres was enhanced ~46% under the influence of external magnetic field (EMF). Overall, cellulose beads could be suggested as the naturally occurring and biocompatible drug delivery vehicles for the long-term, on-demand new-age drug delivery vehicles that give high reproducibility of cycle-to cycle and device-to-device drug release.