Use of Zeolite ZSM-5 for Loading and Release of 5-Fluorouracil

Samples of zeolite zsm-5 have been synthesized in both the sodium form (zsm-5) and the acid activated form (h-zsm-5). in addition,each of these two forms was prepared in the two molar sio2/al2o3 ratios of 169 and 15. all samples of these zsm-5 derivatives were characterized by x-ray diffraction (xrd),nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms,thermal gravimetric analysis (tga),x-ray fluorescence (xrf),and scanning electron microscopy (sem). the samples were successfully loaded with the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-fu) with loading capacities varying from 22% (for the sodium form having the lower molar sio2/al2o3 ratio of 15,zsm-5-(15)) to 43% (for the corresponding acid form,h-zsm-5-(15)). percent release of the drug-loaded zsm-5 samples into simulated body fluid (sbf) was measured at ph 7.4 and 37°c. the results showed a slight variation in the % release within the range 84-93%,while the first-order rate constant (k) varied from 2.2 h-1 for zsm-5-(15) to 3.9 h-1 for h-zsm-5-(15). it was interesting to note that at the higher molar sio2/al2o3 ratios of 169,both the sodium form,zsm-5-(169),and the acid form,h-zsm-5-(169),exhibit an intermediate efficiency in either % loading (38%) or first-order kinetic release constant (k = 2.9 h-1). © 2015 ruba a. al-thawabeia and hamdallah a. hodali.