Development of Gd-Doped C–Al₂O₃ Nanospheres for Biomedical Application in Drug Delivery

This research focuses on the Gd-doped carbon alumina nanospheres manufactured through a hydrothermal synthesis routes for their application in drug delivery. A facile two-step hydrothermal process was used to form the alumina spheres. In the initial stage at 90°C, gadolinium chloride hexahydrate was achieved through gadolinium oxide with the excess of hydrochloric acid. In the final stage, the formation of Gd-doped alumina in the hydrothermal reactor, followed by a combination of aluminum nitrate nanohydrate, glucose, gadolinium chloride and annealed at 450°C in the furnace, was achieved. The structural characterization of the powdered sample was performed with the help of SEM and XRD. The results of XRD showed the amorphous nature of alumina obtained after annealing. No peak of Gd was confirmed due to its lower concentration in the XRD pattern. The broad diffraction peaks of alumina were observed due to the high water content and weak crystalline structure. The outcomes of SEM showed that the synthesized Gd-doped alumina possessed spherical morphology. Before annealing, the average size was observed to be 1.69 µm. The composition analysis was done through EDX which confirmed the existence of aluminum, oxygen, and Gd. The functional group of PEG-coated alumina has been examined with the help of FTIR spectroscopy. The MTT assay has confirmed that the sample is biocompatible and can be used as a drug carrier.