Design of γ-alumina/chitosan/CeO2/SrO nanohydrogel for levofloxacin delivery

Developing efficient and regulated medication delivery systems is a crucial advancement for improving medical outcomes and reducing side effects in healthcare. In this regard, we have formed a novel nano hydrogel system made of gamma-alumina, chitosan, cerium oxide, and strontium oxide (γ-Al/CS/CeO₂/SrO) through wet chemical techniques. The chemical structure, optical properties, charge, size, shape, surface area, and pH of the synthesized nano hydrogel carrier were characterized using techniques such as FTIR spectroscopy, UV–visible spectroscopy, Zeta potential analysis, PXRD, SEM, BET analysis, and PZC determination. The BET analysis of the γ-Al/CS/CeO₂/SrO nanocarrier indicated a specific surface area of 9.195504 × 10¹ m²/g. XRD confirmed the average crystalline sizes of CeO₂/SrO nanoparticles and the nano hydrogel as 10.3 nm and 78.9 nm, respectively. UV–visible spectroscopy showed a band gap of 5.58 eV. The size (0.1 μm) of the levofloxacin (LFX) loaded γ-Al/CS/CeO₂/SrO nanosystem was analyzed using dynamic light scattering (DLS). LFX was the model drug for loading and release studies, achieving maximum loading efficiencies of 64 %, 90 %, and 78 % in acidic, phosphate buffer saline (PBS), and basic media, respectively. A distinct peak corresponding to the C–F stretch was observed at 869 cm⁻¹ in the FTIR spectra, and the zeta potential changed from −7.13 to +0.33 mv, indicating that levofloxacin had been successfully loaded onto the nano hydrogel system. The highest percentage of drug release recorded was 45.8 %, 79.5 %, and 19.6 % in acidic, phosphate buffer saline, and basic media, respectively. Different kinetic models, including zero order, first order, Higuchi, Hixson Crowell, Korsmeyer Peppas, and Peppas Sahlin, were utilized to analyze the drug release profile to identify the most suitable one. The Peppas Sahlin and Zero order models, displaying R² values of 0.9678 and 0.9642, respectively, were the most accurate models for characterizing the controlled release of levofloxacin. The Korsemeyer Peppas model revealed a diffusion release exponent “n” value of 0.926 (with 0.45 < n < 1.0) in the basic medium, indicating that the drug release mechanism followed anomalous (non-Fickian) diffusion, suggesting that both diffusion and dissolution processes influence the release. These findings highlight the potential of the developed γ-alumina/chitosan/CeO₂/SrO nano hydrogel as a drug delivery nanocarrier with controlled release characteristics, paving the way for future research and applications.