Functionalization of mesoporous materials with long alkyl chains as a strategy for controlling drug delivery pattern

Abstract

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 was prepared to evaluate its effectiveness as a matrix for the controlled delivery of macrolide-type antibiotics. Two types of material were used to evaluate the delivery: calcined samples and samples functionalized with octyltrimethoxysilane and octadecyltrimethoxysilane. The samples were charged with the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin and the release assays were carried out in vitro. It has been observed that the release rate decreases as the population of hydrophobic –CH2 moieties in the host increases.