Glucose-triggered drug delivery from borate mediated layer-by-layer self-assembly

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing targeted drug delivery systems is crucial for effective cancer therapy.
• Stimuli-responsive materials offer precise control over drug release.
• Glucose-sensitive systems are desirable for targeting specific physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a novel glucose-triggered drug delivery system.
• To investigate the self-assembly of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan for drug encapsulation.
• To evaluate the controlled release of anticancer drugs in response to glucose.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of multilayer thin films of PVA-borate and chitosan on microparticles (MF particles).
• Monitoring layer-by-layer growth using Zeta potential measurements.
• Characterization of film formation using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).
• Investigating film disassembly and drug release in the presence of glucose using CLSM and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated and characterized multilayer thin films on MF particles.
• Demonstrated glucose-induced disintegration of the multilayer thin film and microcapsules.
• Confirmed efficient encapsulation and release of DOX molecules at glucose concentrations above 25 mM.
• Observed disassembly of PVA-borate and chitosan self-assembly under microscopy.

Conclusions:

• The developed multilayer thin film exhibits efficient encapsulation and glucose-triggered release of anticancer drugs.
• This glucose-sensitive self-assembly system holds significant potential for targeted anticancer therapeutic drug delivery.
• The system's responsiveness to glucose offers a promising avenue for smart drug delivery applications.