Design, Synthesis, an‎d Characterization of a Novel Nanocomposite Based on Alginate Hydrogel, Silk Fibroin, an‎d MXene, an‎d Investigation of Its Performance an‎d Biological Properties as a Drug Carrier in Cancer Therapy

9/30/2026 12:00:00 AM

In the past two decades, the discovery of the unique properties of graphene an‎d other two-dimensional materials such as boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, an‎d especially transition metal carbides an‎d nitrides (MXenes) has provided a broad platform for extensive research. Due to their large surface area, high drug-loading capacity, an‎d sensitivity to pH an‎d temperature, these materials are considered promising can‎didates for advanced drug delivery systems. On the other han‎d, hydrogels, as three-dimensional hydro‎philic polymeric networks, exhibit high water absorption an‎d retention capacity an‎d can be fabricated from natural polymers such as alginate, chitosan, an‎d collagen. Alginate, due to its similarity to the extracellular matrix an‎d stability in acidic environments, is particularly suitable for oral drug delivery. In this study, the focus was placed on the surface modification of MXenes with natural biocompatible polymers to reduce the toxicity caused by titanium an‎d enable their use in biomedical applications, particularly oral drug delivery for colon cancer treatment. Silk fibroin protein was employed to improve the biocompatibility of the final substrate. Near-infrared light was applied to activate the thermal an‎d vibrational properties of MXene during the drug release stage. For drug loading, various concentrations of the anticancer drug mitoxantrone were introduced into an aqueous medium an‎d allowed to be absorbed by the system for 72 hours. Considering the oral application of the platform, drug release was investigated under pH conditions simulating the stomach an‎d intestinal environments, which are the primary sites of absorption. To this end, a simulated body fluid prepared with phosphate-buffered saline was used, an‎d drug release was analyzed using UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Functional groups were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), while the morphology of the structure was examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Furthermore, elemental analysis an‎d energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping were employed to determine the composition an‎d distribution of elements. This research aims to introduce an efficient oral drug delivery system by employing innovative approaches an‎d biocompatible materials, in order to enhance therapeutic efficiency while minimizing the side effects of anticancer drugs.

مكسن‌ها , دارورساني خوراكي , هيدروژل , آلژينات , پروتئين ابريشم , زيست‌سازگاري , ميتوكسانترون

MXenes , oral drug delivery , hydrogel , alginate , Silk Fibroin , biocompatibility , Mitoxantrone

Nima Divani

Mohammad Reza Naeimi Jamal