Production of 5-FU Drug Loaded Biocomposite Materials : Drug Loading Efficiency and Characterization

Hydroxyapatite/polymer composites are promising materials for drug delivery applications. Studies focusing on the development of such composites are available in recent years, as using these materials as a carrier allows us to overcome the side affects of toxic drugs used especially in cancer treatments and increase treatment efficiency. In this study, hydroxyapatitechitosan (HAp-CTS) biocomposites are produced in the presence of simulated body fluid (SBF) as a carrier for 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). 5-FU, which is widely used for the treatment of colon, rectal, breast, ovary, pancreas, stomach, brain and skin cancer, is selected as drug. Biocomposite materials are produced by wet precipitation method at pH 7.4 and 37°C implementing glutaraldehyde (GA) as a cross-linking agent. Drug loading process is performed during the wet precipitation. In order to observe the effect of GA amount on drug loading efficiency, composites cross-linked with different amounts of GA are released in deinozed water, HCl and phosphate bufffer solution (PBS). Absorbance value of the solution was obtain by Uv-vis (Jenway 6305) spectra and calibration curve was evaluated to calculate the drug concentrations. Composites are analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric Analyses (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and particle size distribution to observe morphology and structure. It is concluded that drug loaded HAp-CTS composites have a potential to be used in drug delivery applications.