Chitosan/carboxymethyl starch bio-coated naproxen@GQDs/Copper glutamate MOFs: A new system for colon-specific drug delivery relay on the special structure of the used polymers

In the present investigation, for the first time, bio metal-organic frameworks (Bio-MOFs) were synthesized with glutamic acid (Glu) as a biocompatible organic linker and copper as a metal node in presence of presynthesized citric acid-based graphene quantum dots (GQDs) (GQDs@Bio-MOF(Cu)). SEM analysis obtained a diameter of Bio-MOF(Cu) around 1 mu m. Naproxen (NAP) as a model of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was loaded on GQDs@Bio-MOF(Cu) at about 53.1 %. NAP@GQDs@Bio-MOF(Cu) showed fast drug release, hence, for achieving the system with controlled and delayed intestinal delivery the NAP@GQDs@Bio-MOF(Cu) was coated with carboxymethyl starch (CMS) and chitosan (CS). The physicochemical properties of the products were evaluated employing well-known characterization techniques. NAP release results displayed that the CMS@CS can afford gastric protection and is a more suitable drug carrier for colon targeting. Also, the CMS@CS/(NAP@GQDs@BioMOF(Cu)) showed biodegradability (68.7 %), biocompatibility (78.3 %), and antibacterial (75 mu g center dot mL(-1)) features. Consequently, the finding displayed that the CMS@CS/(NAP@GQDs@Bio-MOF(Cu)) potentially could be employed for encapsulation, protection, and delivery of NAP in pharmaceutical applications without any concern about bacterial infections.

Automated summary

Bio metal-organic frameworks (Bio-MOFs) were synthesized using glutamic acid as the organic linker and copper as the metal node, in the presence of citric acid-based graphene quantum dots (GQDs). Naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was loaded onto GQDs@Bio-MOF(Cu) at approximately 53.1%. The coated system, CMS@CS/(NAP@GQDs@Bio-MOF(Cu)), showed controlled drug release and exhibited biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties. This study suggests that CMS@CS/(NAP@GQDs@Bio-MOF(Cu)) has potential applications in pharmaceuticals for the encapsulation, protection, and delivery of Naproxen without concerns about bacterial infections.