Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous Gd2O3 nanotube and its use as a drug-carrying vehicle.
Gd2O3 nanotubes were constructed for the first time by assembling highly crystalline Gd2O3 nanoparticles through the use of combined soft template and sol-gel methods. Amphiphilic block copolymer was used as structure-directing agent and gadolinium isopropoxide as inorganic precursor in non-aqueous solution. The amphiphilic copolymer molecules are known to undergo self-organization above a critical micelle concentration, forming micellular architecture that further provides a structurally ordered active site for the nucleation and growth of Gd monomers. The resulting self-assembly of the Gd2O3 nanocrystals led to the formation of Gd2O3 tubular nanostructure after pyrolytic removal of the template. Transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated a mesoporous channel array along the [110] direction of the nanotubes where the wall of nanotube is well organized by the assembly of a highly crystalline framework of Gd2O3 nanocrystals. This Gd2O3 nanotube exhibited weak superparamagnetic property and was found to be able to carry and elute a model molecule, i.e. ibuprofen (IBU), in a controllable manner via an external magnetic field. The mechanism of IBU release from the nanotubes with and without the use of magnetic stimulus was proposed.
Chang
Yen-Po
YP
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta-hsueh Rd., Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Liu
Kun-Ho
KH
Chao
Chih-Shin
CS
Chen
San-Yuan
SY
Liu
Dean-Mo
DM
D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008280:Magnetics; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D016062:Porosity / Q000187:drug effects; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
D004337:Drug Carriers; C030581:gadolinium oxide; D005682:Gadolinium; D009584:Nitrogen; D007052:Ibuprofen