Synthesis and characterization of protocatechuic acid-loaded gadolinium-layered double hydroxide and gold nanocomposite for theranostic application

Muhammad Sani Usman,Aminu Umar Kura,Mohd Zobir Hussein,Sharida Fakurazi,Mas Jaffri Masarudin,Fathinul Fikri Ahmad Saad

doi:10.1007/s13204-018-0752-6

Muhammad Sani Usman, Aminu Umar Kura + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-018-0752-6

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Abstract

A theranostic nanocomposite was developed using anticancer agent, protocatechuic acid (PA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent gadolinium nitrate (Gd) for simultaneous delivery using layered double hydroxide (LDH) as the delivery agent. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were adsorbed on the surface of the LDH, which served as a complementary contrast agent. Based on the concept of supramolecular chemistry (SPC) and multimodal delivery system (MDS), the PA and Gd guests were first intercalated into the LDH host and subsequently AuNPs were surface adsorbed as the third guest. The nanohybrid developed was named MAPGAu. The MAPGAu was exposed to various characterizations at different stages of synthesis, starting with XRD analysis, which was used to confirm the intercalation episode and surface adsorption of the guest molecules. Consequently, FESEM, Hi-TEM, XRD, ICP-OES, CHNS, FTIR and UV–Vis analyses were done on the nanohybrids. The result of XRD analysis indicated successful intercalation of the Gd and PA as well the adsorption of AuNPs. The UV–Vis release study showed 90% of the intercalated drug was released at pH 4.8, which is the pH of the cancer cells. The FESEM and TEM micrographs obtained equally confirmed the formation of MAGPAu nanocomposite, with AuNPs conspicuously deposited on the LDH surface. The cytotoxicity study of the nanohybrid also showed insignificant toxicity to normal cell lines and significant toxicity to cancer cell lines. The developed MAGPAu nanocomposite has shown prospects for future theranostic cancer treatment.

Highlights

Nanostructured materials/nanomaterials research is fast becoming a leading field of interest in material science
Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) diffractograms of the pure starting material and the nanohybrids formed at various stages is displayed in Fig. 1a–d, which depicts all the diffraction patterns, where A represents pure protocatechuic acid and B gadolinium nitrate (Gd) NO3 3
The layered double hydroxide (LDH) was first synthesized as the nanocarrier, which was used to intercalate the drug and the Gd NO3 3 into the interlayers of the LDH (MAPGA) as shown in Fig. 1d, the positions of the reflections appear to have shifted to the lower position of 2°θ (8.5), which results in an increase in the basal spacing to 10.5 Å

Summary

Introduction

Nanostructured materials/nanomaterials research is fast becoming a leading field of interest in material science. This is due to the superior properties associated with these materials compared to their counterparts outside the nanorange. Nanomaterials demonstrate wide range of applications, in biomedicine. Applied Nanoscience (2018) 8:973–986 with a size range of 1–100 nm’ (Krishnamoorthy et al 2012; Mirza and Siddiqui 2014; Usman et al 2013). The definition of a nanomaterial according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is “a material with any external dimensions in the nanoscale or having internal structure or surface structure in the nanoscale” (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Support 2012)

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