LETROZOLE DRUG DISSOLUTION FROM CLINOPTILOLITE ZEOLITE: EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Dissolution of water-insoluble drugs is an important challenge in drug delivery. Adsorbing water-insoluble drugs onto nanoporous carriers such as zeolites can improve drug dissolution. The drug molecules adsorbed in a thin layer onto nanoporous carriers are fully exposed to the solvent, enhancing the dissolution process. This presentation will give new insights into the adsorption of water-insoluble letrozole drug onto the nanoporous clinoptilolite zeolite from a nanoscale-science point of view based on experimental and theoretical considerations. Adsorption of the letrozole drug on clinoptilolite zeolite will be conducted from the colloidal dispersion state. The amount of letrozole adsorbed in a monolayer will be evidenced by thermogravimetric measurements, while optical spectroscopy techniques will reveal the interactions of the letrozole drug on the nanoporous zeolite framework. Positive adsorption energy at the letrozole-clinoptilolite interface calculated using density functional theory models suggests a small affinity for letrozole adsorption, suggesting the letrozole release is more favorable than the adsorption process. Thus, this presentation will show new possibilities in adsorption and dissolution of water-insoluble drugs.