Synergistic Occlusion of Doxorubicin and Hydrogels in CaCO3 Composites for Controlled Drug Release

Abstract

Extensive exploration is required to deploy mineralization as a tool to develop low-cost yet efficient sustained drug release systems. Unlike previous studies which directly incorporated drug components in mineralized products, we propose an emerging approach to synthesizing drug-loaded CaCO3 composites, relying on the synergistic occlusion of the molecular solutions comprising both the alginate hydrogel matrices and the associated drug (doxorubicin) in the course of mineralization. Independent tools including a scanning electron microscope and adsorption isotherm were employed to characterize the lyophilized composites, which led to the conclusion that the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was uniformly dispersed in the hydrogel matrices as a molecular solution. The occlusion strategy led to CaCO3-based composites with high loads and sustained and pH-responsive release of DOX. Considering many drug molecules can form molecular solutions with polymeric components, we find that the synergistic occlusion can become a general approach to designing smart drug delivery systems.

HABS-controlled Growth of Aragonite Based Polymorphic Symbiotic CaCO3 Crystals in Emulsion

“…To date, studies have shown that CaCO3 has seven phases, including amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) [5], calcium carbonate monohydrate (monohydrocalcite) [6], calcium carbonate hexahydrate [7], rhombohedral calcite [8], orthorhombic aragonite [9], and hexagonal vaterite [10], as well as the newly discovered phase calcium carbonate hemihydrate [11]. In addition, CaCO3 or CaCO3-based materials processes significant applications, especially in bone regeneration and drug delivery due to its excellent biocompatibility [12][13]. However, CaCO3 can exist in different morphologies and crystal structures, some of them might serve as scaling to reduce the oil recovery.…”

Heavy Alkyl-Benzene Sulfonate-Controlled Growth of Aragonite-Based Polymorphic CaCO3 Crystals in Emulsion

“…To date, studies have shown that CaCO 3 has seven phases, including amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) [5], calcium carbonate monohydrate (monohydrocalcite) [6], calcium carbonate hexahydrate [7], rhombohedral calcite [8], orthorhombic aragonite [9] and hexagonal vaterite [10], as well as the newly discovered phase, calcium carbonate hemihydrate [11]. In addition, CaCO 3 or CaCO 3 -based materials have significant applications, especially in bone regeneration and drug delivery due to their excellent biocompatibility [12,13]. However, CaCO 3 can exist in different morphologies and crystal structures, and some of them might result in scaling, reducing oil recovery in oilfields.…”