PVP modified ZnO and GaN nanoparticles for ceftriaxone drug delivery

Abstract

In this work, the possibility for use of GaN and ZnO nanoparticles as drug delivery systems is investigated. Both types of nanoparticles show a good crystallinity, according to the XRD analysis, and relatively good stability in suspension consisting of deionized water, especially after functionalization with Polyvinylpyrrolidone K30. The functionalization of nanoparticles with Polyvinylpyrrolidone leads to an increase of the average hydrodynamic size from 125 nm to 190 nm in case of ZnO, and from 180 nm to 340 nm in case of GaN, respectively. The results showed an increase of ceftriaxone adsorption on ZnO nanoparticles from 2.7 μg/mg in case of pristine nanoparticles, up to 5.5 μg/mg for the Polyvinylpyrrolidone modified nanoparticles. In case of GaN, the functionalization of nanoparticles leads to an increase from 0 to 4.5 μg/mg. The release of ceftriaxone from the surface of nanoparticles was tested in different media, namely in the PBS (pH = 7.4) and Acetate Buffer (pH = 5.8). It was found that less than 45% of antibiotics are released in Acetate Buffer, while in PBS buffer, the drug molecules detach from the nanoparticles surfaces up to 90%. Due to the unique properties of nanoparticles such as biocompatibility and piezoelectricity, the results are promising for the development of smart drug-delivery systems.