Résumé
Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) or hydrotalcite-likecompoundshave attracted great attention for the delivery of anticancer drugsdue to their 2D structure, exhibiting a high surface-to-volume ratioand a high chemical versatility. The drug is protected between thelayers from which it is slowly released, thus increasing the therapeuticeffect and minimizing the side effects associated to nonspecific targeting.This work aimed to design LDHs with Mg and Al (molar ratio of 2/1)in brucite-like layers, which retained fluorouracil (5-FU; 5-FU/Al= 1, molar ratio) in the interlayer gallery as the layers grow duringthe co-precipitation step of the synthesis. To rationally controlthe physicochemical properties, particularly the size of the crystallites,the aging step following the co-precipitation was performed undercarefully controlled conditions by changing the time and temperature(i.e., 25 & DEG;C for 16 h, 100 & DEG;C for 16 h, and 120 & DEG;Cfor 24 h). The results revealed the achievement of the control ofthe size of the crystals, which are gathered in three different agglomerationsystems, from tight to loose, as well as the loading degree of thedrug in the final organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials. Therole played by the factors and parameters affecting the drug-controlledrelease was highlighted by assessing the release behavior of 5-FUby changing the pH, solid mass/volume ratio, and ionic strength. Theresults showed a pH-dependent behavior but not necessarily in a directproportionality. After a certain limit, the mass of the solid diminishesthe rate of release, whereas the ionic strength is essential for thepayload discharge.