A novel method to get methotrexatum/layered double hydroxides intercalation compounds and their release properties

•MTX/LDHs were first synthesized by mechanochemical–hydrothermal method.•The molar ratio of the reactants has significant influence on final products.•The release process can be divided into two stages.•The properties of intercalation compounds are comparable to those obtained from standard method.

In this context, the methotrexatum/layered double hydroxides (MTX/LDHs) intercalation compounds have been synthesized by a mechanochemical–hydrothermal method, which involves a grinding process and subsequent hydrothermal treatment. The influence of R (molar ratio of Mg2+ to Al3+ to MTX) values on the structure and morphology of the intercalation compounds and their release properties were investigated systematically. The resulting compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. All the results indicate that R value has significant influence on the intercalation of MTX anions into LDH interlayer and the optimal R value is 2:1:0.5. Furthermore, four dissolution–diffusion kinetic models were used to fit the in vitro release of MTX from LDH layers. The release process can be divided into two stages: firstly surface diffusion and secondly intraparticle diffusion. The study also revealed that the properties of the intercalation compounds is comparable to that obtained from standard methods such as co-precipitation method, but with time, solvent and energy saving.