Studies on MCM-41 mesoporous silica for drug delivery: Effect of particle morphology and amine functionalization

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 137; no. 1; pp. 30 - 37
• Main Authors: Manzano, M., Aina, V., Areán, C.O., Balas, F., Cauda, V., Colilla, M., Delgado, M.R., Vallet-Regí, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.03.2008
• Subjects: Drug delivery systems; Silica-based mesoporous materials; Drug delivery systems; Silica-based mesoporous materials
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2007.07.078

Mesoporous MCM-41 silica functionalized by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane grafting was studied as a potential carrier for controlled drug release, using ibuprofen as a test drug. For comparison, non-functionalized MCM-41 was also investigated. For the purpose of testing the effect of carrier morphology on drug delivery rate, MCM-41 was prepared in the form of both, a powder consisting of irregularly shaped (and sized) particles and monodispersed spheres (490 to 770 nm in diameter). Amine-functionalized MCM-41 micro-spheres were found to show a significantly slower drug release rate than irregularly shaped powders, which should facilitate drug delivery control over a longer time period.