Synthesis and characterization of MCM-48/hydroxyapatite composites for drug delivery: Ibuprofen incorporation, location and release studies

MCM-48 is crystalline, mesoporous silicate used in catalysis and for adsorption various molecules to create useful materials for chemistry, pharmacy and medicine. In this work, the MCM-48 silicate has been coated with nanohydroxyapatite (HA) to design a new drug delivery system. The MCM-48/hydroxyapatite composite was synthesized using a new method involving precipitation of HA onto the earlier prepared MCM-48. The method gives an interesting mesoporous material capable of adsorbing drugs on its external surface and on the internal surface in mesopores. This was shown using ibuprofen (Ibu). The MCM-48/HA composites and MCM-48/HA/Ibu conjugates have been thoroughly characterized using various physicochemical methods. It was concluded that the MCM-48/HA composite offers a significant potential for controlled drug delivery systems involving small API molecules.