Covalently Functionalized Halloysite-Calixarene Nanotubes for Injectable Hydrogels: A Multicavity Platform for Hydrophobic Drug Delivery.

ABSTRACT: Background: Poor water solubility is a major limitation for the therapeutic use of many anticancer drugs. In this study, we report the design and development of two halloysite-based hybrid nanomaterials for the encapsulation and delivery of hydrophobic and positively charged drugs. Methods: A novel multicavity platform was obtained by covalently grafting calix[5]arene macrocycles onto the external surface of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), combining lumen encapsulation with supramolecular host-guest recognition. PB4, a planar and hydrophobic pyridinium salt with significant antiproliferative activity, was selected as a model compound. Both PB4-loaded HNTs (HNTs/PB4) and calixarene-functionalized HNTs (HNTs-Calix/PB4) were incorporated into Laponite^®-based thixotropic

SUBMITTER: Cina G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12472301 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature