Mg– Al layered double hydroxide – Cabozantinib nanohybrid drug delivery system

Mg – Al layered double hydroxide nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method and anticancerous drug Cabozantinib (CBZ) was intercalated into it by in-situ ion exchange. The LDH –CBZ nanohybrid produced stable suspension in water, as predicted by zeta potential measurement. X-ray diffraction showed that the basal spacing increased to nearly twice the same for pristine LDH on CBZ intercalation. Thermogravimetric analyses demonstrated an increase in thermal stability of the intercalated drug in the LDH network. A striking increase in efficacy/sensitivity of CBZ on the HCT-116 cells was obtained when intercalated within the LDH layers, as revealed by the attainment of half maximal inhibitory concentration of LDH – CBZ nanohybrid by 48 h, whereas, bare CBZ required 72 h for the same. The CBZ release from MgAl-LDH –CBZ composite in phosphate buffer saline at pH 7.4 followed a relatively slow, first order kinetics and was complete within 8 days following diffusion and crystal dissolution mechanism.

Keywords:

MgAl-LDH , Cabozantinib , drug delivery