A sustained folic acid release system based on ternary magnesium/zinc/aluminum layered double hydroxides

This study first synthesized and characterized the ternary magnesium/zinc/aluminum layered double hydroxides (Mg/Zn/Al-LDHs) intercalated with folic acid. We prepared the ternary (Mg, Zn, Al) LDH carrier by the introduction of zinc, because magnesium and zinc are both vital minerals of human body. The nanohybrids were prepared by the method of coprecipitation and were characterized by powdered sample X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), UV–vis spectra, and MTT assay. The loading amount of intercalated folic acid was increased to 45.2%, and showed a profile of sustained release with 75% in 250 min. In addition, the folic acid-LDH nanohybrids showed an enhanced thermal stability and a profound buffering property, which demonstrated that the hybrids could protect folic acid against heat degradation and prompt its available diffusion. The cell viability of HEK293T was over 80% after treated with nanohybrids for 72 h. Our results suggested that the ternary folic acid-LDH nanohybrids may function as a useful nutritional tablet to promote the bioavailability of folic acid delivery.