Application of aluminum nitride nanotubes as a promising nanocarriers for anticancer drug 5-aminosalicylic acid in drug delivery system

We investigated and discussed the adsorption of the anticancer drug 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) on the surface of aluminum nitride nano-tubes (AlNNTs) via density functional theory (DFT). The adsorption results using DFT showed the strong interactions of AlNNTs with the carbonyl (-NH2) group of 5-ASA with a higher adsorption energy of approximately similar to 31.58 kcal.mol(-1), while the interaction of AlNNTs with 5-SAS with its -OH and -CO2H groups was weak, which is because of the negative energy of adsorption. Additionally, the values of Gibbs free energy showed the spontaneity of the adsorption of 5-ASA on the surfaces of AlNNTs. In addition, the NBO analysis confirmed the charge transport from the r orbitals of N and H atoms of 5-ASA to the n* orbitals of N and Al atoms of AlNNTs with high energies. The results demonstrate that 5-ASA tends to interact with AlNNTs in a favorable manner. A significant change was observed in the energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) during the adsorption of 5-ASA on AlNNTs, thereby decreasing the band gap (Eg) values that enhanced their electrical conductivity. The current work showed that AlNNTs can be considered suitable candidates for delivering 5-ASA in biological systems. (C) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Through density functional theory (DFT), the strong interaction between 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and aluminum nitride nano-tubes (AlNNTs) was investigated. The adsorption of AlNNTs with the carbonyl group of 5-ASA was found to have a higher adsorption energy, while the interaction with the -OH and -CO2H groups was weak. The adsorption process was spontaneous, and there was a high energy charge transfer between 5-ASA and AlNNTs, leading to a change in energy levels and enhanced electrical conductivity. These results suggest that AlNNTs can be considered as suitable materials for delivering 5-ASA in biological systems.