Abstract:Objective To investigate whether Methotrexate/Montmorillonite intercalation drugs (MTX/MMT release system) can be used as drug delivery agents in clinic. Methods MTX/MMT release system was prepared by solution intercalation technique. The experiment adopted UV, FT-IR and other means to characterize the structural characteristics. Through simulation of gastric and intestinal fluid release experiments in vitro , the releasing rules and intrinsic mechanism of sustained-release delivery system were investigated. The initial drug concentration, reaction time, reaction pH value and reaction temperature on the MMT drug loading were explored. Results The maximum amount of drug intercalation was obtained at the initial concentration of 0.8804 μg/ml, pH 1 and 50℃ for 4 hours. In the in vitro release experiment, sustained release of the MTX/MMT release system was observed in the simulated gastric and intestinal fluid, but the amount of release was smaller and the release speed was slower in the simulated gastric fluid. Conclusions Methotrexate/Montmorillonite intercalation drugs may be used as drug delivery agents in clinic.