Assembling drug-loaded-layered double hydroxide nanohybrids with poloxamer 188 for improved cellular uptake and in vitro efficacy

Layered Double Hydroxide (LDHs) requires surface functionalization to achieve desirable colloidal and biological stability for effective drug delivery. The present work reported a new functionalized approaches to construct drug-loaded nanohybrids (2:1E and 2.8:1E) by co-assembling LDH sheets, penta-fluorouracil (5Fu) and poloxamer 188 through exfoliation reassembling. Some analysis showed that more poloxamer 188 were needed to prepare 2:1E with appropriate particle size than 2.8:1E. Besides, 2.8:1E shows advantages in drug loading rate and dispersion as compared with ion exchange method. In addition, these nanohybrids can improve the sudden release of 5Fu in naked drug-loaded LDH. Most importantly, significant enhanced cell uptake and better cytotoxicity were seen in these nanohybrids in contrast to naked drug-loaded LDH. Lastly, the results reveal that assembling drug-loaded LDH with poloxamer 188 is a promising strategy to improve cellular uptake and in vitro efficacy of LDHs for biomedical applications. Graphical abstract Drug-loaded nanohybrids were synthesised by co-assembling LDH sheets, penta-fluorouracil (5Fu) and poloxamer 188 through exfoliation reassembling, and showed advantages in dispersion, enhanced cell uptake and better cytotoxicity as compared with naked drug-loaded-LDH prepared by ion exchange method.