Dynamic Release of Antibiotic Drug Gentamicin Sulfate from Novel Zirconium Phosphate Nano-Platelets

The intercalation of gentamicin sulfate (GS) into novel zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nano-platelets has been achieved using a hydrated ZrP phase known as the theta-ZrP (Zr(HPO4) 2 center dot 6H(2)O) which possesses six water molecules per formula unit. This paper revealed the successful intercalation of the GS into theta-ZrP at different molar ratios of GS: theta-ZrP (1: 10,1: 5,1: 2), which were demonstrated by the emergence of a new phase in the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern with an interlayer distance of 13.1 angstrom. The morphologies and sizes of the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) which showed the characteristic platelet-like hexagonal shape of the ZrP nanoparticles. Compared to spherical shape particles the hexagonal shape may show better margination, adhesion, and binding properties. The average particle size of GS: theta-ZrP nano-platelets was 120 nm in diameter and the average thickness of the particles was 10 nm. The drug release in vitro on the obtained GS: theta-ZrP nano-platelets was carried out in pH 7.4 buffer solution at 37 degrees C. The cytotoxicity cell viability experiments in vitro for the GS and GS: theta-ZrP nanoparticles showed that GS: ZrP had low cytotoxicity. Overall, our study demonstrated that the GS: theta-ZrP nanoparticles possessed a moderate GS loading efficiency, low cytotoxicity and favorable biocompatibility.