Synthesis and application of polyethyleneimine and polyethylene glycol grafted on CoFe2O4/single‐walled carbon nanotubes as a delivery platform for silibinin: Loading experiments, modeling, and in‐vitro release studies

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this study was to prepare and characterize a nanohybrid, CoFe2O4/single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) grafted with polyethyleneimine and polyethylene glycol (CoFe2O4/SWCNT–PEI–PEG), for loading silibinin (SB) as an anti‐cancer natural agent to form a drug delivery platform with magnetic targeting capability and pH‐responsive release. The characteristics of the prepared nanocomposite were analyzed by different characterization techniques, confirming a well‐magnetic porous structure consisting of rich amine and hydroxyl functional groups of PEI and PEG, respectively, and CoFe2O4 aggregates on the wire‐like SWCNT wrapped by the polymer. Through the adsorption process, the SB loading was accomplished. The highest adsorption capacity of CoFe2O4/SWCNT–PEI–PEG for SBN was 74.8 mg g−1 with 10 mg of the nanocomposite attained at pH 7 and a solution temperature of 328 K. The experimental data were accurately predicted by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo‐first‐order kinetic models. The release rate from SB loaded CoFe2O4/SWCNT–PEI–PEG was enhanced to 76% at pH 5.6 compared to pH 7.4 which was 45%, demonstrating that the acidic medium may relatively improve drug release. The SB release kinetic data obeyed the Peppas–Sahlin model. Our results demonstrated the potential of the hybrid nanocarrier as a vehicle for solubilizing and delivering SB to specific sites.