Synthesis and properties of Mg2Al layered double hydroxides containing 5-fluorouracil

A pharmaceutically active compound, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been firstly intercalated into layered double hydroxide with the restructure method. Powder X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic analysis indicate that 5-FU molecule is stabilized in the host interlayer by electrostatic interaction and intermolecular interaction, and that the orientation of 5-FU is different when changing the pattern of aging treatment or the swelling agent. The release studies show that a rapid release of the drug during the first 40 min is followed by a more sustained one, and that the total amount of drug released from hybrid material into the aqueous solution is almost 87% and 74% at pH 4 and 7, respectively. The studies mentioned above suggest that layered double hydroxide might be used as the basis of a tunable drug delivery carrier.