Towards new drugs formulations: Gentamicin-anionic clay as nanohybrids

Gentamicin-hydrotalcite-like anionic clays nanocomposites were synthesized by using the direct co-precipitation method. XRD, XPS and FTIR analysis reveal that for the hydrotalcite-like sample, the drug is adsorbed only on the anionic clay surface, whereas for copper, partially substituted hydrotalcite gentamicin is detected also in the clay interlayer. The affinity of gentamicin to form complexes with some transition metals such as iron and copper could explain the different behaviour of gentamicin in copper-containing clay. The SEM analysis reveals that the new nanocomposites are defined by a compact, nonmesoporous solid structure. The drug release from the layered matrix of the clay was studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The nanohybrids based on gentamicin-anionic clay can open new perspectives for reducing the toxic side effects of the drug. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.