Two different approaches to synthesizing Mg–Al-layered double hydroxides as folic acid carriers

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are a class of artificially constructed materials that have potential applications in a wide range of fields, including biomedical research and drug development. In this study, we have successfully intercalated folic acid into LDH using two different approaches: co-precipitation and ion exchange. The resultant LDH–folic acid constructs were then characterized by powdered sample X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA). XRD data demonstrated that folic acid molecules remained intact and stable between the hydroxide layers in LDH particles constructed by both co-precipitation and ion-exchange methods, with interlayer spacings of 15.3 and 16.0 Å, respectively. Particle size and surface topography were also determined using TEM. Cytotoxicity test revealed that neither LDH nor LDH–folic acid nanohybrids were toxic to the cell line 293T, suggesting that they can be used as a safe and noncytotoxic drug delivery system. Furthermore, the buffering effect of the intercalated LDH was evaluated. This work provides fundamental insights and technical details for utilizing biofunctional molecules that can form nanobiohybrid particles.