Abstract
The article discusses the release process of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) from multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The studies described a probable mechanism of release and actions between the surface of functionalized MWCNTs and anticancer drugs. The surface of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been modified via treatment in nitric acid to optimize the adsorption and release process. The modification efficiency and physicochemical properties of the MWCNTs+DOX system were analyzed by using SEM, TEM, EDS, FTIR, Raman Spectroscopy and UV-Vis methods. Based on computer simulations at pH 7.4 and the experiment at pH 5.4, the kinetics and the mechanism of DOX release from MWNT were discussed. It has been experimentally observed that the acidic pH (5.4) is appropriate for the efficient release of the drug from CNTs. It was noted that under acidic pH conditions, which is typical for the tumour microenvironment almost 90% of the drug was released in a relatively short time. The kinetics models based on different mathematical functions were used to describe the release mechanism of drugs from MWCNTs. Our studies indicated that the best fit of experimental kinetic curves of release has been observed for the Power-law model and the fitted parameters suggest that the drug release mechanism of DOX from MWCNTs is controlled by Fickian diffusion. Molecular dynamics simulations, on the other hand, have shown that in a neutral pH solution, which is close to the blood pH, the release process does not occur keeping the aggregation level constant. The presented studies have shown that MWCNTs are promising carriers of anticancer drugs that, depending on the surface modification, can exhibit different adsorption mechanisms and release.
Highlights
Carbon nanomaterials especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which are characterized by unique properties, including large surface area, high size stability and the ability to wall functionalization [1,2]
It was demonstrated that the bonds between multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was stronger and the release process of DOX was slower in the cancer environment compared to single-wall zigzag carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)
The samples in powder forms of pMWCNTs, mMWCNTs, pure DOX and DOX onto mMWCNTs were pelleted with KBr
Summary
Carbon nanomaterials especially carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which are characterized by unique properties, including large surface area, high size stability and the ability to wall functionalization [1,2]. It was demonstrated that the bonds between MWCNTs and DOX was stronger and the release process of DOX was slower in the cancer environment compared to SWCNTs. Undoubtedly, the efficiency of drug release from nanocarriers is a major determinant of its biological use. The result clearly confirms the presence of DOX onto mMWCNTs. The broadband at 3328 cm−1 can be attributed to the stretching vibration of O-H groups and the band at 1732 cm−1 is due to C=O asymmetric stretching vibration groups. The shift to higher wavenumber by about 20–40 cm−1, compared to groups not involved in the interaction is typical This result can indicate the participation of functional groups in DOX bonding as well as DOX—DOX interactions by hydrogen bonds that represent the majority
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