Synthesis and release behavior of composites of camptothecin and layered double hydroxide

A simple method, reconstruction of calcinated layered double hydroxides (CLDH) in an organic (ethanol)–water mixed solvent medium containing drug, was developed to intercalate partially a non-ionic and poorly water-soluble drug (camptothecin) into the gallery of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) to form the drug–LDH composites. The purpose of choosing organic–water mixed solvent is to increase remarkably the solubility of camptothecin (CPT) in the reconstruction medium. A probable morphology of CPT molecules in the gallery of LDHs is that CPT molecules arrange as monolayer with the long axis parallel to the LDH layers. The in vitro drug release from the composites was remarkably lower than that from the corresponding physical mixture, which shows these drug–inorganic composites can be used as a potential drug delivery system.