Fabrication of bionanocomposite based on LDH using biopolymer of gum arabic and chitosan-coating for sustained drug-release

The study proposed a new formulation to the sustained delivery of mefenamate anions intercalated into Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) for oral administration. Different experimental conditions were evaluated to incorporate the mefenamic acid (MEF) and gum arabic (GUM) into LDH structure. The LDH-MEF and LDH-MEF/GUM were covered with chitosan (CHIT). In another experiment, LDH-Cl was used to adsorb mefenamate anions and evaluate the mechanism. The products of LDH were characterized by using different techniques such as FESEM (field emission scanning electron microscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) spectroscopy and TGA (thermogravimetric analysis). The X-ray diffraction patterns and FTIR analyses confirmed that the MEF and GUM were successfully intercalated into the interlayer space of LDH. TG analysis verified that the thermal stability of intercalated MEF in the form of bionanocomposite (LDH-MEF//GUM/CHIT) was enhanced. Finally, In vitro drug release experiments of bionanocomposite at a pH of 1.2 (acidic medium) and a pH of 7.4 (phosphate buffer medium) showed sustained release profiles with mefenamate anions as an anti-inflammatory model drug.