Bifunctional core-shell structure NaA zeolite@mesoporous-silica/curcumin nanocomplexes for removing heavy metals and reduction of Cadmium-induced damage

Heavy metals had been reported to bioaccumulate in many organs and adversely affect the functions of these organs. Therefore, it was of great significance to develop bifunctional drug carrier, which could remove heavy metals and load curcumin with multiple protective properties. Newly designed drug carrier combining a core of NaA zeolite and a mesoporous silica (MS) shell has been developed, which the core is used to remove heavy metals, the outer shell loads drugs, and explore the dual functions. In this work, Curcumin-loaded on an amino modified NaA@MS-0.2 (NaA@MS-0.2-N-Cur) are 220 nm sized and have a mesoporous silica shell of 30 nm thickness. The cumulative drug release from NaA@MS-0.2-N-Cur were 14.1 and 43.0% in pH 7.4 and pH 1.2 PBS. NaA@MS-0.2-N-Cur released in 100 mL of pH 1.2 PBS containing 100 mg/L Cd2+, the cumulative drug release rate was 43.9%, the sorption rate of Cd2+ was 79.7%, and the sorption capacity of Cd2+ was 109.5 mg/g. Taken together, these results suggested that core-shell structure nanocomplexes are bifunctional and its cumulative drug release rate increased in pH 1.2 PBS. And this drug carrier has great potential for protecting the body from damage for heavy metal.