Folate-targeted albumin modified silica-gelatin hybrid nanocarrier involving synthesis and release characterization

A novel hybrid of silica-gelatin modified by bovine serum albumin-folate was designed in the current study as a pH-sensitive drug carrier. The fluorouracil was loaded by entrapment efficiency of 70%. The nanocarrier was evaluated in terms of pH-sensitive release behavior in simulated acidic condition of cancer tissue (pH = 5.6), and the normal physiological condition of the body (pH = 7.4) for 96 h. In vitro, drug release from nanocarriers indicated a partial rapid release in the early times (34 and 21% after 12 h in acidic and neutral media), which was followed by a sustained and gradual release profile up to 65% in acidic medium, and 42% in natural medium after 96 h, confirming the pH-responsive behavior of the developed nanocarrier. The Higuchi model adequately described the release data. The results of kinetic model indicated that the release process is mainly controlled through diffusion mechanism. The toxicity study showed low toxicity of drug-free carriers against normal human dermal fibroblast cells (HDF) and human ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3). These outcomes support the proper function of the designed hybrid nanocarrier in targeted drug delivery.