Luminescence study of europium doped MgAl layered double hydroxides during the release of the Ibuprofen

• Grant number: 25/12510-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Danilo Mustafa
• Grantee: Larissa Santos Duarte
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 25/00720-0 - Rare earth spectroscopy as a tool to monitor ion exchange of species incorporated between layers of hybrid layered double hydroxides, AP.R

Abstract

The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, has grown widely in topical and oral formulations due to their therapeutic efficacy. However, precise control of the release of these compounds remains a pharmacotechnical challenge, especially when seeking to minimize side effects and increase bioavailability. In parallel, the development of materials that allow not only controlled release, but also non-destructive monitoring of the release process, represents a significant advance for intelligent drug delivery systems.Lamellar double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as promising drug carriers due to their exchangeable anionic structure, biocompatibility and stability. Intercalation of ibuprofen in MgAl LDHs offers an efficient means of storage and gradual release of the drug in physiological media, especially at acidic or neutral pH. Furthermore, doping these materials with lanthanide ions such as Eu³¿ introduces luminescent properties that are highly sensitive to the local chemical environment, and can act as a spectroscopic probe.Although there are studies on the intercalation of ibuprofen in LDHs and on the luminescence of materials doped with Eu³¿, investigations that directly correlate the drug release process with variations in the luminescence of Eu³¿ are still scarce. Such an approach may allow real-time detection of the release, offering advantages such as reducing the use of reagents for quantification and the development of self-indicating release systems.This research proposal proposes the synthesis of MgAl LDHs doped with Eu³¿ containing ibuprofen intercalated between their layers. The main objective of this project is to study the profiles of the excitation and emission spectra of the selected rare earth to obtain correlations between the structural properties and the adsorption and release of the drug. This type of study represents a relevant scientific innovation, with potential applications in pharmacology, intelligent systems and environmental sensors. (AU)