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.
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 Ta-hsueh Rd., Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Yen-Po
YP
Chang
Kun-Ho
KH
Liu
Chih-Shin
CS
Chao
San-Yuan
SY
Chen
Dean-Mo
DM
Liu
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