Hierarchical Gum Karaya-Fabricated Layered Double Hydroxides of Ni-MgAl: A Novel Structure for Ciprofloxacin Intercalation and Release

Abstract

This study explores the bio-fabrication of Ni-MgAl layered double hydroxides (Ni-MgAl LDH) using a natural polymer called gum karaya (GK). The hydrothermal method was employed to fabricate a Ni-MgAl LDH with GK. Various characterization techniques, including PXRD, FTIR, SEM, Zeta potential analysis, DLS, BET, DSC, and TG, were utilized to confirm the synthesis of GK@Ni-MgAl LDH nanocomposite. The composite's swelling indices under varying conditions and loading parameters, such as pH and drug concentration, were explored. It is observed that an increase in the percentage of ciprofloxacin (Cip) drug loading as the medium shifts from mildly acidic to neutral. Different kinetic models, such as first-order, zero-order, Higuchi, Korsmeyer, and Hixson, were utilized to investigate the release mechanism. According to the medication kinetics results, the Korsmeyer model, with a release exponent of 0.45 ˂ n ˂ 0.89 at pH 7.4 and 9.4, adhered to the non-Fick's rule of diffusion mechanism in the release profile. The correlation coefficients acquired from the Korsmeyer and Higuchi models indicate that the release mechanism involved diffusion and dissolution characteristics in all instances. The in-vitro release is influenced by temperature and pH. The outcomes suggest significant potential of bionanocomposite in a controlled drug delivery system.