Abstract: A series of nonocomposite Fe₃O₄@(TF-LDHs) possessing a core/shell structure with a tegafur(TF) intercalated Zn-Al layered double hydroxides(LDHs) shell coated onto the surface of magnetic Fe₃O₄ core was assembled via one step coprecipitation method. The chemical composition, crystal structure, magnetic property, arrangements of TF within interlayer and drug release behavior of the magnetic nanocomposite were investigated systematically by XRD, FTIR, TEM, VSM, ICP and UV-Vis techniques. The results show that Fe₃O₄@(TF-LDHs) have a paramagnetism and the saturation magnetization were enhanced with increasing the magnetic substrates content. Tegafur molecules were arranged as a bilayer with the long axis slightly tilted to the LDHs layers. The release kinetics of TF from Fe₃O₄@(TF-LDHs) nonocomposite was investigated in pH=7.2 and pH=4.8 buffer solutions, and it was found that the release process might fit the pseudo-second-order release kinetics and the diffusion of tegafur through the LDHs particle played an important role in controlling the drug release rate. The in vitro drug release rate from the nanocomposite was remarkably lower than that from the corresponding physical mixture, which showed that the Fe₃O₄@(drug-LDHs) nanocomposites could be considered as a potential magnetic targeting drug delivery-controlled-release system.

Key words: Layered double hydroxide, Tegafur, Nanocomposite, Drug delivery system, Magnetic targeting