title: Synthesis of nanostructured methotrexate/hydroxyapatite: Morphology control, growth mechanism, and bioassay explore.
abstract: In this study, a new structure of methotrexate/hydroxyapatite (MTX/HAp) nanorods via a facile hydrothermal route was reported. The as-synthesized samples were then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. In order to explore the formation mechanism, the effects of reaction time, MTX concentrations and addition of ethylene glycol (PEG) were emphatically examined. The results indicated that, with the increase in reaction time, the fibrous nanoparticles turned to needle-like and then to rod-like. Our study also proved that reaction time of 12h was enough for the full-growth of the nanostructure. Drug-loading capacities (AIn) rose dramatically in the first 12h and reached a plateau afterwards. Importantly, MTX played a critical role in the longitudinal growth of MTX/HAp nanostructure and polyethylene glyco (PEG) was a good dispersing agent to improve the monodispersity. As expected, the functional agent of MTX was served as both the target anticancer drug loaded in HAp and effective complex agents to modify and control the morphologies of MTX/HAp. Lastly, in vitro bioassay tests gave us evidence that obvious tumor inhibition can be achieved when MTX was hybridized with HAp.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
authors.forename: Chao-Fan
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China; Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Palygorskite Science and Applied Technology, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian 223003, PR China. Electronic address: lishuping@njnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Shu-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Material, College of Chemistry and Material Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D017886:Durapatite / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013818:Thermogravimetry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D017886:Durapatite; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Bioassay explore; Drug loading; Hydroxyapatite; Methotrexate