Controlled release of folic acid through liquid-crystalline folate nanoparticles

•Folates are highly ordered structures; self-assembles even at low concentrations.•They are model drug carriers that can be designed for long term sustained release.•Folate nanoparticles show high degree of control and improved encapsulation.•Release rates can be controlled by the size and cross-linking of the particles.•Controlled release is also observed on changing the nature of release medium.

The present study explores folate nanoparticles as nano-carriers for controlled drug delivery. Cross-linked nanoparticles of liquid crystalline folates are composed of ordered stacks. This paper shows that the folate nanoparticles can be made with less than 5% loss in folate ions. In addition, this study shows that folate nanoparticles can disintegrate in a controlled fashion resulting in controlled release of the folate ions. Release can be controlled by the size of nanoparticles, the extent of cross-linking and the choice of cross-linking cation. The effect of different factors like agitation, pH, and temperature on folate release was also studied. Studies were also carried out to show the effect of release medium and role of ions in the release medium on disruption of folate assembly.

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