title: Sustained release of methotrexate through liquid-crystalline folate nanoparticles.
abstract: To make chemotherapy more effective, sustained release of the drug is desirable. By controlling the release rates, constant therapeutic levels can be achieved which can avoid re-administration of drug. This helps to combat tumors more effectively with minimal side effects. The present study reports the control release of methotrexate through liquid-crystalline folate nanoparticles. These nanoparticles are composed of highly ordered folate self-assembly which encapsulate methotrexate molecules. These drug molecules can be released in a controlled manner by disrupting this assembly in the environment of monovalent cations. The ordered structure of folate nanoparticles offers low drug losses of about 4-5%, which is significant in itself. This study reports the size-control method of forming methotrexate encapsulated folate nanoparticles as well as the release of methotrexate through these nanoparticles. It has been demonstrated that methotrexate release rates can be controlled by controlling the size of the nanoparticles, cross-linking cation and cross-linking concentration. The effect of different factors like drug loading, release medium, and pH of the medium on methotrexate release rates was also studied.
authors: Advance Materials & Nanoscience Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, 110016, India, biotech.rahul.mishra@gmail.com.
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Misra
authors: Sanat
authors: S
authors: Mohanty
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D050866:Liquid Crystals; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D053758:Nanoparticles
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005492:Folic Acid; D008727:Methotrexate