Alginate encapsulated mesoporous silica nanospheres as a sustained drug delivery system for the poorly water-soluble drug indomethacin

摘要

Abstract We applied a combination of inorganic mesoporous silica material, frequently used as drug carriers, and a natural organic polymer alginate (ALG), to establish a sustained drug delivery system for the poorly water-soluble drug Indomethacin (IND). Mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) were synthesized using an organic template method and then functionalized with aminopropyl groups through postsynthesis. After drug loading into the pores of aninopropyl functionalized {MSNs} (AP-MSNs), {IND} loaded AP-MSNs (IND-AP-MSNs) were encapsulated by {ALG} through the ionic interaction. The effects of surface chemical groups and {ALG} layer on {IND} release were systematically studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption, zeta-potential analysis and {TGA} analysis. The surface structure and surface charge changes of the {ALG} encapsulated AP-MSNs (ALG-AP-MSNs) were also investigated. The results showed that sustained release of {IND} from the designed drug delivery system was mainly due to the blockage effect from the coated ALG. We believe that this combination will help designing oral sustained drug delivery systems for poorly water-soluble drugs.