Montmorillonite/poly-(ε-caprolactone) composites as versatile layered material: reservoirs for anticancer drug and controlled release property.

This work evaluates intercalation of tamoxifen (Tmx) in interlayer gallery of Na(+)-MMT (Montmorillonite, MMT) (Tmx-MMT), which is further compounded with poly-(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) (Tmx-MMT/PCL, MPs), for oral chemotherapy of breast cancer. The X-ray diffraction patterns, thermal and spectroscopic analyses indicated the intercalation of Tmx into the MMT interlayer that stabilized in the longitudinal monolayer mode by electrostatic interaction. No significant change in structural and functional properties of Tmx was found in the MMT layers. In vitro study of drug release profiles showed controlled release pattern. The genotoxic effect of drug was in vitro evaluated in human lymphocyte cell culture by comet assay, and results indicated moderate reduction in DNA damage when pristine Tmx was intercalated with MMT and formulated in composites. The Tmx-MMT hybrid efficacy was also confirmed on HeLa and A549 cancer cells by in vitro cell viability assay. In vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) of formulated Tmx in rats was examined and the results showed that plasma Tmx levels were within therapeutic window as compared to pristine Tmx. Therefore, Tmx-MMT hybrid and microcomposite particles (MPs) can be of considerable value in chemotherapy of malignant neoplastic disease with reduced side effects. This study clearly indicated that MMT not only plays a role as a delivery matrix for drug, but also facilitates significant increase in the delivery proficiency.

Montmorillonite-alginate nanocomposites as a drug delivery system: intercalation and in vitro release of vitamin B1 and vitamin B6.

Sustained intestinal delivery of thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B(1); VB(1)) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B(6); VB(6)) seems to be a feasible alternative to existing therapy. The vitamins (VB(1)/VB(6)) intercalated in montmorillonite (MMT) and intercalated VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT hybrid is further used for synthesis of VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT-alginate nanocomposite beads by gelation method and in vitro release in the intestinal environment. The structure and surface morphology of the synthesized VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT hybrid, VB(1)/VB(6)-alginate and VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT-alginate nanocomposite beads were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TGA and SEM. In vitro release experiments revealed that the VB(1)/VB(6) releases suddenly from VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT hybrid and is pH dependent. The controlled release of VB(1)/VB(6) from VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT-alginate nanocomposite beads was observed to be controlled as compared to their release from VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT hybrid and VB(1)/VB(6)-alginate beads.