Fabrication of high surface area mesoporous silicon via magnesiothermic reduction for drug delivery

In this study, mesoporous silicon was achieved from ordered mesoporous silica via magnesiothermic reduction reaction, while preserving the original shape, mesoporous structure as well as high surface area. Rod-like SBA-15 with hexagonal array of 2D channels and crystal-like SBA-16 with body centered arrangement of cages were used as precursors, suitable wall thickness and mesoporous structures facilitated the formation of products with high porosity and the preservation of original morphologies. X-ray diffraction (XRD), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and Raman spectra revealed that high crystallinity and purity of the resulted products were obtained. N2 sorption isotherm results showed that the mesoporous silicon derived from hexagonal SBA-15 has much higher surface area than that from cubic SBA-16, which is reasonably attributed to the difference of wall thickness and porous structures of the precursors. High surface area Si-SBA-15 was selected as vector and ibuprofen as a model drug for drug release, and the system displayed superior drug loading and good release profile.

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► Mesoporous silicon was achieved from ordered mesoporous silica via magnesiothermic reduction reaction.
► The mesoporous silicon preserved the original shape, mesoporous structure as well as high surface area.
► High surface area mesoporous silicon material can act as vector for drug delivery, and the system displayed superior drug loading and good release profile.
► This present strategy shine light on the targeted synthesis of mesoporous silicon-based materials for further applications.