Crosslinking to enhance colloidal stability and redispersity of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles

Abstract

This article introduces a strategy for stabilizing and redispersing layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles by crosslinking bovine serum albumin (BSA) coated onto the surface. The strategy involves optimization of the amount of the crosslinking agent glutaraldehyde (GTA) to achieve minimal aggregation and ready redispersion. LDH nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation and hydrothermal treatment, with subsequent BSA coating at the BSA/LDH mass ratio of 5:2. BSA coated onto LDH nanoparticles was crosslinked with different amounts of GTA. Aggregation studies using dilution assays, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential analysis indicated that severe aggregation at lower LDH nanoparticle concentrations can be prevented by proper crosslinking of BSA with GTA. The GTA-crosslinked BSA-coated nanoparticles showed excellent redispersity compared to the non-crosslinked nanoparticles. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell uptake were found to be minimally affected by GTA-crosslinking. The new strategy therefore provides a much more effective method for the prevention of LDH nanoparticle aggregation and improved LDH nanoparticle redispersion for use in a wide variety of bio-applications in vitro and in vivo.

Clay nanoparticles co-deliver three antigens to promote potent immune responses against pathogenic Escherichia coli

“…LDH clay nanoparticles were synthesised and prepared under sterile conditions as previously described [48]. In brief, 10 mL 700 mM MgCl 2 and 300 mM…”

2D Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles: Recent Progress toward Preclinical/Clinical Nanomedicine

“…Interestingly, the natural biomolecules such as serum albumin have been demonstrated as a promising agent against LDH particle aggregation via surface coating. Our team has recently developed a bovine serum albumin (BSA) precoating strategy to effectively prevent particle aggregation in biological solutions including saline, PBS, and serum (Figure c) . Our results have revealed that LDH nanoparticles with the size of 110 nm are able to disperse well at an appropriate BSA/LDH mass ratio (5:2) with the rationally designed mixing method .…”

“…For instance, the therapeutic agents are often in the format of dry powder that needs dispersion in an electrolyte solution such as 0.9% saline or 5% glucose before administration . However, the LDH nanoparticles quickly form serious aggregates by Bernal stacking during the drying process, and nanoparticles, particularly once dried, cannot be redispersed in the electrolyte media …”

Firmly anchored photosensitizer Chlorin e6 to layered double hydroxide nanoflakes for highly efficient photodynamic therapy in vivo

“…[21][22][23][24] Among the choices, layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanomaterials have been very attractive due to their superior merits including good biocompatibility, biodegradability like biomolecule based nano-carriers, [25][26][27][28] and pH sensitive drug release characteristics. [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] Despite these advantages, there are also issues when LDH nanoparticles are employed in delivering PS molecules for photodynamic therapy. In particular, owing to the lack of functional groups on the surface, these nanomaterials are not stable in blood circulation.…”