Novel Approach to Magnetic Core-Shell Nanostructures of ZnAl Layered Double Hydroxide for Controlled Drug Release of Ciprofloxacin

Abstract

This research exhibits a novel approach to constructing the ZnAl layered double hydroxide (ZnAl-LDH) as a shell on the core of Fe3O4 nanoparticles, followed by the intercalation process of an antibiotic drug, ciprofloxacin (cip). Also, the advantages of the synthetic Fe3O4@ZnAl-LDH as a delivery agent model are investigated. The obtained biocompatible nanostructures were characterized by a range of techniques such as FT-IR, XRD, EDX, FE-SEM, and TGA. Based on the X-ray diffraction results, the increase in the interlayer space indicated successfully intercalation of cip (ZnAl-LDH-cip 95.87 % and Fe3O4@ZnAl-LDH-cip 94.48 %,). The surface morphology, examined by the scanning electron microscopy imaging, displayed the stacked sheets of LDH. In addition, the drug release properties, studied in PBS buffer (pH=7.4) at 37 °C, illustrated a sustained release profile. The great rates of 81.27 % and 82.43 %, were found after 24 h for ZnAl-LDH-cip and Fe3O4@ZnAl-LDH-cip, respectively. The studies showed that the as-synthesized Fe3O4@ZnAl-LDH can be used as an efficient nanocarrier in the targeted and controlled drug release systems.