Preparation of a new Fe3O4/starch-g-polyester nanocomposite hydrogel and a study on swelling and drug delivery properties

•Fe3O4/starch-g-polyester hydrogel nanocomposite was synthesized as an effective carrier by a graft copolymerization reaction.•Magnetic hydrogel polymeric nanocomposite with 0.01M concentrations of FeCl2 and 0.005M of FeCl3 is optimum for Swelling.•Composite without Fe3O4 nanoparticles is the most suitable for drug delivery in body. A new Fe3O4/starch-g-poly(ethylene phthalate) hydrogel nanocomposite was prepared using poly(ethylene phthalate) grafted onto starch as a biopolymer. The nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, DLS and SEM. FT-IR spectra proved that polyester had been grafted onto starch in a copolymerization reaction. XRD spectra confirmed the synthesis of the nanocomposite and the average size of the particles. SEM observations showed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been uniformly dispersed in a polymeric matrix. Swelling and drug delivery properties of Fe3O4/starch-g-poly(ethylene phthalate) nanocomposite were studied. It was confirmed that Fe3O4/starch-g-polyester nanocomposite with 0.01M concentrations of FeCl2 and 0.005M of FeCl3 is the most appropriate for swelling and the composite without Fe3O4 nanoparticles is optimum for drug delivery.