Development and evaluation of targeting ligand-anchored CNTs as prospective targeted drug delivery system

Figures & data

Figure 1. FTIR spectrum of oven-treated MWCNTs (at 250 °C for 30 min).

Figure 2. FTIR spectrum of acid (H₂SO₄:HNO₃::NH₄OH:H₂O₂)-treated MWCNTs.

Table 1. Effects of sonication on particle size and polydispersity index on functionalization of CNTs.

Treatment	Particle size (nm)	PDI
Oven treatment	881.10 ± 5.52	0.436 ± 0.02
Microwave treatment	863.42 ± 8.45	0.381 ± 0.12
Acid treated (H2SO4:HNO3::NH4OH:H2O2)	706.12 ± 2.42	0.303 ± 0.04
Acid treated (H2SO4:HNO3) reflux 8 h	570.94 ± 6.54	0.254 ± 0.14

Figure 3. Dispersion of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in different surfactants.

Figure 4. IR spectrum of procured folic acid.

Figure 5. FTIR spectrum of FA-PEG bis amine.

Figure 6. FTIR spectrum of FA-PEG bis amine/MWCNTs.

Figure 7. % Cumulative release from: (A) 5-FU-MWCNTs (B) 5-FU-FA-PEG-MWCNTs formulations in PBS 7.4 and acetate buffer 5.0.

Figure 8. Percent cell viability of MCF-7 cell after treatment with free 5-FU, 5-FU/MWCNTs and 5-FU/MWCNTs (n = 3).

Figure 9. Qualitative cell uptake of the free 5-FU, 5-FU/MWCNTs and 5-FU-FA-PEG-MWCNTs in MCF-7 cells.

Figure 10. Biodistribution patterns of free 5-FU, 5-FU-MWCNTs and 5-FU-FA-PEG bis amine-MWCNTs in different organs.

Table 2. Pharmacokinetic parameters of free 5-FU, 5-FU-MWCNTs, and 5-FU-FA-PEG bis amine-MWCNTs.

	Formulations code
Pharmacokinetic parameters	Free 5-FU	5-FU-MWCNTs	5-FU-FA-PEG bis amine-MWCNTs
Cmax (μg/mL)	0.3644	0.4810	0.5069
Tmax (hr)	1.0000	1.0000	1.0000
AUCtotal	1.4725	2.6036	3.7362
% AUC	0.2292	1.4941	9.8714
HVD	1.9275	1.9175	2.3665
T1/2 (h)	5.6192	8.6439	16.4754
MRT (h)	5.2327	10.3746	17.0036s