Indometacin loading and in vitro release properties from novel carbopol coated spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Spherical MCM-41 silica nanosized particles were synthesized and post synthesis modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) in order to prepare amino-functionalized carrier. Both types of silica particles were loaded with indometacin and further coated with carbopol. The preservation of morphology and pore structure of the particles was observed by XRD, TEM and N2 physisorption. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the interaction between carboxyl groups of indometacin and the amino groups of the functionalized MCM-41. Amino-functionalization of the carrier resulted in higher degree of indometacin loading in comparison to the parent MCM-41, 39% vs. 30%, respectively. The coating of drug loaded amino-MCM-41 silica particles with carbopol significantly reduced the initial burst release of indometacin. Both silica carriers demonstrated no cytotoxicity on HL-60 (acute myeloid leukemia) and K-562 (chronic myeloid leukemia) cell lines.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Higher indometacin loading in spherical amino modified MCM-41 nanoparticles. ► Carbopol coating of the amino modified MCM-41 decreased the initial burst release. ► Both the surface modification and the carbopol coating lead to lower cytotoxicity.