Fabrication of PEGylated Porous Alumina Whiskers (PAW) for drug delivery applications

Abstract This study reports the fabrication and potential evaluation of Porous Alumina Whiskers (PAW) synthesized by facile two-step process, hydrothermal synthesis followed by calcination, for drug delivery applications. The as-synthesized PAW were modified with Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), after hydroxylation, to improve biocompatibility. Chemical and structural properties of Porous Alumina Whiskers (PAW) were evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) which confirm the successful synthesis of PEGylated PAW. Moreover, biocompatibility was accessed via MTT-assay using Rhabdomyosarcoma cell line. Finally drug loading and release capabilities of PEGylated PAW were tested using photosense, a standard photodynamic therapy (PD) model drug. Results confirm the suitability of PAW as a potential platform for drug delivery.