Layered Double Hydroxide Nanocarrier for Controlled Delivery of Drug Molecules

Abstract

Ibuprofen intercalated Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxide nanohybrids have been prepared for controlled delivery of anti-inflammatory drug molecule ibuprofen (IBU). NSAID such as ibuprofen in anionic form has been intercalated in situ into the interlayer space of LDH nanoparticle during coprecipitation of hydroxides. LDH-drug nanohybrids have been characterized using DLS, XRD, FTIR, and EDX. The XRD patterns shows a decrease in diffraction angle and anincrease in the interlayer spacing of basal planes of LDH-IBU which is due to the presence of ibuprofen in the interlayer. FTIR analysis indicates that ibuprofen
molecules are intercalated into the hydroxide interlayer space and are stabilized by electrostatic forces, intermolecular bonds and Vanderwall’s interaction. Stretching vibration of hydroxyl group of ibuprofen at 2980 cm-1 in LDH-IBU confirms the presence of ibuprofen
in the interlamellar space of LDH-IBU. Drug release behaviour of LDH-drug nanohybrids have been evaluated in vitro using UV-Visible spectroscopy in simulated body fluid (SBF) of physiological pH. The drug release behaviour of LDH-IBU nanohybrid shows an initial burst release followed by a slower, steady and sustained release for later time period and importantly more than 95 % of drug was released in 72 hours in SBF.