Potential for Layered Double Hydroxides-Based, Innovative Drug Delivery Systems

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Kai Zhang¹  Zhi Ping Xu³  Ji Lu³  Zhi Yong Tang⁴  Hui Jun Zhao²  David A. Good¹ 

[1] School of Medical Science & Griffith Health Institute, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia; E-Mail:;Griffith Schools of Environment, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia; E-Mail:;Australian Institutes for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; E-Mails:;National Centre for Nanoscience and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; E-Mail:

关键词: layered double hydroxides (LDHs);    drug delivery;    gene therapy;    chemotherapy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms15057409

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs)-based drug delivery systems have, for many years, shown great promises for the delivery of chemical therapeutics and bioactive molecules to mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo. This system offers high efficiency and drug loading density, as well as excellent protection of loaded molecules from undesired degradation. Toxicological studies have also found LDHs to be biocompatible compared with other widely used nanoparticles, such as iron oxide, silica, and single-walled carbon nanotubes. A plethora of bio-molecules have been reported to either attach to the surface of or intercalate into LDH materials through co-precipitation or anion-exchange reaction, including amino acid and peptides, ATPs, vitamins, and even polysaccharides. Recently, LDHs have been used for gene delivery of small molecular nucleic acids, such as antisense, oligonucleotides, PCR fragments, siRNA molecules or sheared genomic DNA. These nano-medicines have been applied to target cells or organs in gene therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes current progress of the development of LDHs nanoparticle drug carriers for nucleotides, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer drugs and recent LDH application in medical research. Ground breaking studies will be highlighted and an outlook of the possible future progress proposed. It is hoped that the layered inorganic material will open up new frontier of research, leading to new nano-drugs in clinical applications.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland