Release and extraction of letrozole in blood plasma using resorcinol functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract

In this research, carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotube was functionalized by cyanuric chloride and modified by 1,3 dihydroxybenzene (MWCNT-resorcinol). MWCNT-resorcinol was used as an adsorbent for extraction and determination of letrozole in human blood plasma prior to high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV). Synthesized carbon nanotubes were modified and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The efficiency of the adsorbent for adsorption and release of letrozole in the blood plasma was evaluated at the optimized condition. An adsorption efficiency of 96.9% was achieved at pH of 4 and the extraction time of 20 min. A recovery percentage of 92.7% for the drug in plasma was also obtained. Lastly, the release efficiency values for letrozole from MWCNTs-resorcinol in simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2) and simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.4) were calculated as 91% and 70%, respectively. Such results enhanced the potential ability of the MWCNTs-resorcinol as a drug delivery substrate.