Erlotinib-entrapped gellan gum/carboxymethyl fenugreek seed mucilage-based thermo/pH-sensitive matrices

Carboxymethyl fenugreek seed mucilage-grafted poly-N-isopropylacrylamide/montmorillonite [CFSM-g-PNIPA/MMT] nanocomposites (NCs) were dually crosslinked with gellan gum (GG) to afford interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) matrices for effective delivery of erlotinib HCl (ERL) to the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The IPN matrices with different reinforcing clay (MMT) contents (0–20%) demonstrated comparable size (1.64–1.80 mm) and acceptable drug loading capacity (DEE, 47.97–89.35%). The infrared, thermal and X-ray analyses implied the compatibility between drug and matrix constituents, and the SEM studies conferred the spherical morphology of the IPN matrices. Moreover, these hydrogel matrices portrayed temperature-responsive swelling profiles and their molar masses between crosslinks \(\left( {\bar{M}_{{\text{c}}} } \right)\) $\left({\overline{M}}_{\text{c}}\right)$ were increased with temperature. Among different matrices, the composites containing 20% MMT (F-3) revealed the sustained drug release profiles, which were best fitted to the Higuchi model with an anomalous transport-driven mechanism. These matrices (F-3) also exhibited pH-dependent swelling and drug release patterns. Furthermore, these matrices evidenced a slower biodegradability as compared to the reference composites (F-1,0% MMT). The mucin adsorption ability of matrices followed the Freundlich isotherm. The matrices (F-3) also displayed enhanced anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing potentials on TNBC cells relative to pure ERL. Thus, the GG/CFSM-based IPN matrices could be employed as efficient drug delivery vehicles for breast cancer therapy.