Development of polyvinylpyrrolidone, inorganic nanoparticles, and lithium carbonate nanostructured systems

Nanocomposites with inorganic nanofillers spread in a polymer matrix have been used for the development of pharmaceutical systems to treat mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder and Alzheimer's disease. In this study, nanostructured particles using a solution intercalation technique combined with a spray-drying process using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), montmorillonite, titanium dioxide, and lithium carbonate, with the aim of designing a new drug delivery system. XRD and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance analyses showed that PVP/MMT 1% achieved an intercalated/exfoliated morphology. However, the incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles into the PVP matrix did not affect its structure, indicating that there was not a strong interaction between the polymer and the TiO2 nanoparticles. Thermal analysis did not reveal any changes in the nanocomposites compared to the pure polymer. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed a pseudo-spherical shape, and SEM-energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) confirmed the dispersion of MMT in the PVP matrix. The introduction of lithium carbonate into the PVP/MMT matrix created a new system with higher molecular mobility; the drug introduction increased the mean droplet size, and the zeta potential remained negative. Overall, the results indicate that the applied methodology can produce a new nanostructured particle as a drug delivery system.

Automated summary

Nanocomposites with inorganic nanofillers were prepared using a solution intercalation technique and a spray-drying process. The results showed that PVP/MMT achieved an intercalated/exfoliated morphology, while the incorporation of TiO2 nanoparticles did not affect the structure of the PVP matrix. Thermal analysis did not reveal any changes in the nanocomposites compared to the pure polymer. SEM analysis revealed a pseudo-spherical shape, and EDS confirmed the dispersion of MMT in the PVP matrix. The introduction of lithium carbonate created a new system with higher molecular mobility.