Functionalized Palygorskite as a Delivery Platforms for Bioactive Asymmetric Beta-Diketone Dyes

Natural clay minerals are among the most versatile materials used in the biomedical field. Palygorskite has found various applications in this field, from the treatment of diarrheal diseases in the past to materials with antibacterial properties and platforms carrying bioactive compounds used in the treatment of diseases, cosmetic and healthcare products in the present. In this study, a possible delivery method of some bioactive asymmetric β-diketonic compounds is presented. Palygorskite modified with amphionic groups (P) and copper ions (PCu) was used as a platform to load bioactive curcumin derivatives (1 and 2). By varying the copper ions, the amounts of charged active compounds were monitored. Studies have shown that the hybrid materials resulting from the loading of 1 and 2 compounds on palygorskite with 30% copper ions (PCu30) can be used as delivery methods for these asymmetric curcumin derivatives, while palygorskite with 50% copper ions(PCu50) loaded with the same type of bioactive compounds has antibacterial properties.