Synthesis and Characterization of Folate Conjugated Boron Nitride Nanocarriers for Targeted Drug Delivery

We have developed advanced folate bonded to boron nitride (BN) nanocarriers with a high potential for targeted drug delivery. The folic acid (FA) molecules were successfully conjugated to BN nanoparticles (BNNPs) in three consecutive stages: (i) FA preactivation by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), (ii) BNNP modification by AgNPs and their further NH2-functionalization with l-cysteine, and (iii) final conjugation of activated FA to modified BNNPs. To shed light on the FA-BNNPs binding mechanism, detailed energetic analysis of the atomic structure and stability of the FA-BNNPs system using density functional theory (DFT) calculations was carried out. The results indicated that the FA was successfully bonded with the BNNPs by a condensation reaction between amino groups of Cyst-Ag/BNNPs and carboxyl groups of FA using DCC. Theoretical analysis also demonstrated that the grafting of FA to the surface of BNNP does not affect FA targeting properties.