Synthesis and controlled drug release behavior of micro-mesoporous wollastonite nanoparticles. Effect of calcination temperature on the structural and biodegradability properties

Abstract

In this study, amorphous and crystalline (Pseudowollastonite) phases of wollastonite (CaSiO3) nanoparticles were successfully synthesized by a facile soft-template method with a micro-mesoporous structure. In addition, the effect of calcination temperature on the structural properties, surface charge, and biodegradability of synthesized nanoparticles were investigated. After that, the drug loading capacity and drug release behavior of the sample calcined at the lowest calcination temperature (600 °C, MMW-600) was investigated with Epirubicin (EPI) as an anti-cancer drug. Noticeably, MMW-600 showed the most appropriate (bio) properties as a candidate of drug carrier in comparison with the samples that calcined at higher temperatures by showing: the least hydrodynamic size (85 nm), the highest specific surface area (301.68 m2g) as well as micro-and mesopore volumes as 0.075 and 0.282 cm3g, respectively. Moreover, it indicated the lowest thickness of the pore wall (6.73 nm) and the highest rate of biodegradation in Tris-HCl. The investigation of drug release behavior revealed a pH-controlled release due to the pH-dependent surface charge of micro-mesoporous wollastonite (MMW) nanoparticles, which was demonstrated by Zeta potential analysis. Additionally, MMW nanoparticles demonstrated a desired high rate and sustained release of EPI (44% and 80% after 4 and 70 h, respectively) in succinate buffer (pH 5.5, mimic the pH of a tumor site). In conclusion, MMW can be a great candidate as a pH-controlled release drug-nanocarrier for anti-cancer drug delivery systems.