Development and characterization of dexamethasone mesylate anchored on multi walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Dexamethasone conjugated multi wall carbon nanotubes (DEX-MWCNTs) were developed for controlled delivery of a doxorubicin HCl (DOX) with reduced toxicity. The DEX-MWCNTs were prepared by sequential functionalization of MWCNTs. The DOX was physically loaded onto the purified raw MWCNTs and DEX-MWCNTs at pH 7.4 phosphate buffer solutions (PBS) and evaluated for entrapment efficiency, in vitro release, hemolytic toxicity and ex vivo studies on “A-549” lung epithelial cancer cell line. DOX was efficiently loaded into purified raw and DEX-MWCNTs formulation and the highest entrapment of DOX was found to be 92.6 ± 0.5% in the case of DEX-MWCNTS with good dispersion. In-vitro release of DOX was studied from the DOX/DEX-MWCNTs at pH 5.5 and 7.4 (PBS), which displayed an initial faster followed by sustained release up to 200 h. Further, DOX/DEX-MWCNTs were found to be less hemolytic and more cytotoxic as compared to free DOX on “A-549” lung epithelial cancer cell line.

Keywords::

• Carbon nanotubes
• dexamethasone mesylate
• functionalization
• doxorubicin

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India for providing financial assistance to carry out the present experimental studies; M/S Sun Pharmaceutical Advanced Research Centre (SPARC), Vadodara, India for gift sample of Doxorubicin hydrochloride; National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali, Chandigarh, India for the zeta potential study; and, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India for Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) facility.

Declaration of interest

The University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India provided financial assistance for this study. The authors report no conflicts of interest.