Lauryl alcohol functionalized citric acid-based dendrimers as the drug carrier for in vitro evaluation

Today, depression is a usual mental disorder that is associated with a depressed mood and loss of interest. Therefore, considering these problems, the main goal of the present research work was to develop a new multifunctional cost-effective citric acid-based dendritic structure (CAD) with the capability of antidepressant drug delivery. For this, at first, three different generations of citric acid dendrimer (CAD G1, CAD G2, and CAD G3) were synthesized through divergent methods. Afterward, each of the synthesized dendrimers was functionalized with lauryl alcohol (LAU), and CAD Gn-LAU was obtained. The fabricated samples were characterized for acute synthesis employing the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). The ratio of the PEG protons to LAU protons specified the percentage of LAU grafting on the dendrimer surface. The outcome displayed that the CAD G1, CAD G2, and CAD G3 were functionalized with LAU groups respectively at about 60, 60, and 33%. All CAD Gn (1-3) were able to encapsulate the fluoxetine (FXN) in its pristine or LAU functionalized form via high-affinity interactions. The highest FXN loading percentage was observed for CAD G3-LAU, at about 52%. The FXN release study approved the pH sensitivity of the prepared systems, which is the main criterion in a specific therapy. All in all, the findings met the aim and can suggest that the synthesized CAD Gn-LAU dendrimers are efficient carriers for FXN delivery in the desired way.