Layered zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoparticles were studied as drug carriers for the targeted delivery of the anticancer drug: gemcitabine hydrochloride (GEM). GEM is extremely cytotoxic to tumor cells, but it turns into an inactive metabolite (2,2-difluorodeoxyuridine) due to a rapid deamination in extra and intracellular environments. To overcome this limitation, we intercalated GEM into ZrP nanoparticles. The amine functional group in GEM makes possible its intercalation into ZrP through ion exchange, stabilizing the drug and giving it a more functional use since nanoparticles are particularly suitable drug carriers due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), IR spectroscopy, and Ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry (UV-vis) were used to characterize the GEM-intercalated ZrP nanoparticles (GEM@ZrP) and they demonstrated the presence of the pyrimidine nucleoside inside the ZrP nanoparticle. Different intercalation mixture molar ratios of GEM to ZrP were tested and it was found that at a GEM:ZrP molar ratio of 1:1, the largest amount of GEM had intercalated. A phosphate buffer solution tested and confirmed the release of GEM in GEM@ZrP nanoparticles. Cell viability studies with androgen receptor negative (PC3) prostate cancer cells lines showed that GEM@ZrP produced an antiproliferative effect making ZrP a potential drug carrier.

Intercalation of gemcitabine into zirconium phosphate nanoparticles for effective anti-cancer nanotherapy

2019 Spring National Meeting

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