ZnO:Tb3+ hierarchical structures as carriers for drug delivery application

Abstract ZnO:Tb3+ hierarchical structures (HS) were synthesized via efficient and facile template-free wet chemistry methods - precipitation and solvothermal ones. Obtained Tb3+-doped HS were functionalized by organosilicon compounds (OSC) for use it as a drug carrier to loading of the doxorubicin (Dox). X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS), UV, photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies, nitrogen adsorption/desorption (BET), and cytotoxicity tests were employed to characterize the obtained ZnO and ZnO:Tb3+ HS. Results showed that proposed approach allows to obtain highly crystalline microspheres composed of nanosheets. XRD analysis of the obtained samples showed presence of two-phased system: ZnO and Tb(OH)3. SEM results demonstrated that obtained ZnO:Tb3+ HS have flower-like spherical shape with mean size approximately 4 μm. The Tb3+-doping do not change the original morphology of ZnO HS. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements showed that unique morphology allowed to obtain surface area of ZnO/ZnO:Tb3+ HS in range of 5 ÷ 13 m2g-1. ZnO and ZnO:Tb3+ HS showed high drug loading and low cytotoxicity.