Intracellular drug delivery of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles

Intracellular drug delivery of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocarriers have been examined in human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell culture line by both electron and confocal microscopies. For transmission electron microsopic (TEM) study, LDHs and anticancer drug, methotrexate (MTX) loaded LDHs were synthesized and the particle size was controlled. From the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) studies, morphologies of LDH nanoparticle and its MTX intercalated form were proven to be platelike hexagonal with an average size of approximately 150 nm. In order to understand the cellular penetration behavior, both nanoparticles were treated to human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell culture lines and the cellular uptake pattern with respect to incubation time was observed by TEM and SEM. We observed that the nanoparticles are attached at the cellular membrane at first and then internalized into the cells via endocytosis within 1 h. Then are located in the intracellular vacuole (endosome). In order to examine the intracellular drug delivery mechanism of LDH nanoparticles, fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled MTX was intercalated into LDH and treated on Saos-2 cells. Laser scanning confocal microscopic studies revealed that the FITC-MTX molecules were first internalized with LDH nanocarriers via endocytosis, and located in endosome to deliver loaded drug to target cellular organ. It was, therefore, concluded that LDH could play a role as drug delivery nanocarriers.