Synthesis of Zinc(II)-natural zeolite mordenite type as a drug carrier for ibuprofen: Drug release kinetic modeling and cytotoxicity study

Abstract

Zn(II)-ZMT material development based on natural zeolite mordenite type (ZMT) as a drug carrier for ibuprofen has been explored and assessed. The ion exchange method was carried out to prepare Zn(II)-ZMT material. XRD, FTIR, and FESEM-EDS were used to characterize the physico-chemical characteristics of all materials. The performance of Zn(II)-ZMT as a drug delivery agent for ibuprofen was also evaluated using drug loading-release, zeta potential measurement, and cytotoxicity testing. Six kinetic models (including the zero-order, first-order, Peppas-Sahlin, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, and Korsmeyer-Peppas models) were utilized to simulate the drug release process. Meanwhile, a microtetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to analyze the material's cytotoxicity. The Zn(II)-ZMT material has a drug loading content (DLC) of 90.37 % and an efficiency entrapment content (EEC) of 54.22 %, according to drug loading. The drug releases kinetic modeling of Ibuprofen from Zn(II)-ZMT followed the Hixson-Crowell model. This material exhibits good biocompatibility based on a cytotoxicity test using the MTT assay. Ibu@Zn(II)-ZMT has a zeta potential of − 61.55 mV ± 0.1 mV. These findings suggest that the material in the dispersion system has a high degree of stability, indicating that it will not flocculate or coagulate in the body. Furthermore, Zn(II)-ZMT is an inorganic substance that has the potential to be employed as a medication delivery material in the future.