Surface functionalisation of diatoms with dopamine modified iron-oxide nanoparticles: toward magnetically guided drug microcarriers with biologically derived morphologies

Diatom silica microcapsules prepared by purification of diatomaceous earth (DE) were functionalised by dopamine modified iron-oxide nanoparticles, in order to introduce diatoms with magnetic properties. The application of magnetised diatoms as magnetically guided drug delivery microcarriers has been demonstrated.