Design and evaluation of targeted delivery of gefitinib using polyethyleneglycolated multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Among the numerous nanosized drug delivery systems currently under investigation, Multi walled carbon
nanotubes offer several advantages and are considered as promising candidate for drug targeting by
Polyethyleneglycolation of multiwall carbon nanotube with phospholipid polyethyleneglycol to make them
water-dispersible and long circulating nanostructures. We describe drug delivery system which involves
uniquely combining carbon nanotubes with anticancer drug Gefitinib for targeted drug release. The formulation
of nanocarrier involves Polyethyleneglycolation and attachment of Gefitinib to multiwall carbon nanotube
surface by non covalent π–π stacking interaction. This formulation is characterized for particle size, loading
efficiency, morphology and rate of drug release. The result indicated that about 2 mg of Gefitinib per 1 mg of
multi wall carbon nanotube is loaded with 96.15% entrapment efficiency. Particle size of the multi wall carbon
nanotube drug conjugate is found to be less than 250nm with polydispersity index of 0.576. The multiwall
carbon nanotube drug conjugate release the drug faster in acidic pH than at neutral pH. However in both neutral
and acidic media, the release was constant over the period of 24 hours.