Rectorite-intercalated nanoparticles for improving controlled release of doxorubicin hydrochloride

Controlled release of drugs has been widely researched in biomedical area. Nanoparticles (NPs) as ideal drug carriers are often used to facilitate improvements in the therapeutic index of drugs. In this study, natural polymers carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and lysozyme (LY) were mixed to prepare CMC-LY NPs by electrostatic self-assembly interactions. In addition, layered silicate rectorite (REC) was introduced into NPs to explore the effect on the encapsulation efficacy and controlled release of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). It was confirmed that the average size of NPs increased with the addition of REC, and the interlayer distance of REC in NPs was enlarged because of the intercalation with polymer chains. Besides, the encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity of DOX in NPs increased markedly with the accretion of REC. The incorporation of REC into NPs could reduce the initial burst release and prolong the therapeutic time. Such results suggest that the REC-intercalated NPs are promising anticancer drug carriers for efficient cancer therapy.