Experimental and Theoretical Study of Delivering Metformin Anti-Lung Cancer Drug With Aluminum Nitride Nanoparticles

Abstract

Aluminum nitride (ALN) finds extensive application across various fields, and further advancement is undergoing to explore efficiency of this compound in drug delivery. The significance of this research lies in its contribution to nano-based drug delivery systems for anticancer treatments. This study focuses on the preparation of ALN nanoparticle using a simple and cost-effective route in an NH₃ atmosphere and in the presence of hydrated aluminum chloride. The characterization techniques such as FT-IR, TEM, SEM, UV, XRD, XPS, and EDS are used to analyze the synthesized nanoparticles. Then, metformin is incorporated into the fabricated nanostructure to achieve a drug loading of ~67%, demonstrating effectiveness of the selected nanocarrier for encapsulating this important drug. The specific impact of pH and time duration on the release profile of metformin highlights the versatility and potential applicability of ALN delivery system. Moreover, the gradual release of drug under physiological conditions (pH 7.4) as well as the accelerated release at the lower pH of 5.1 within 48 h proofed the responsiveness of the nanostructure to varying environmental conditions. Finally, a density functional theory (DFT) calculation was carried out to investigate adsorption of metformin. These computational analyses validated again the potential of ALN as an effective sensor for detecting metformin in biological systems. The unique characteristics of this study involve introducing a pH-responsive nanocarrier to release drug selectively in response to pH of the environment, using a nanoparticle with sufficient stability that improves solubility of poorly soluble metformin. This bioavailable drug delivery system can reduce off-target effects and toxicity associated with conventional drug therapies.