Alginate-bentonite composite decorated by chitosan-folate conjugate for the oral delivery of 5-Fluorouracil

Abstract

Abstract In this work, a novel alginate-modified Na-Bentonite clay composite (APTSB-AL) was synthesized via an ionotropic gelation technique for the controlled delivery of 5-Flurouracil. Characterization of the composite was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR): X-ray diffraction (XRD): scanning electron microscopy (SEM) etc. In order to acquire the targeted drug delivery, the composite was covered by chitosan-folate conjugate (APTSB-AL-CSFA). The freeze-drying method was adopted to avoid the leakage of water-soluble drug molecules during the drying process. The maximum swelling of the composite was found to be at pH 6.8 and the maximum drug release was at pH 7.4. The release kinetics mechanism was explained by the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. In order to find out the material toxicity, the biocompatibility assay in a normal cell line of mouse fibroblast (L929) was carried out. At the concentration of 2.5 μg/ml, the cell toxicity was negligible. At the high concentration level of 40.0 μg/ml, the cell viability was not less than 70.0 %. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the drug-loaded composite was studied in Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma cells and the findings indicated good biocompatibility of the composite. At the concentration of 2.5 μg/ml of the drug-loaded composite (FU-L-APTSB-AL-CSFA): the cell toxicity was found to be less than 50%. And at the high concentration level of 40.0 μg/ml, the cell viability was found to be less than 10%, indicating the targeting action of the loaded composite. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT