Aminopropyl-functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15 as drug carrier for cefazolin: adsorption profiles, release studies, and mineralization potential

In this study, the effect of 3-aminopropyl surface functionalization of ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 on cefazolin adsorption and release profiles was investigated. The mineralization potential of functionalized SBA-15 in simulated body fluid was also investigated. The 3-aminopropyl-functionalized SBA-15 (SBA-NH2) were obtained by post-synthesis treatment of the parent SBA-15. The loading of cefazolin on SBA-NH2 was performed by using adsorption process from water solutions. The adsorption efficiency was characterized by applying the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The adsorption kinetics were investigated using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models as well as intraparticle diffusion model. It was found that the equilibrium data were best fitted by the Langmuir isotherm. Cefazolin adsorption followed the pseudo-second order kinetics. The cefazolin-loaded SBA-NH2 showed prolonged release profile for a period of 7 days. Cefazolin release was characterized by zero-order kinetics with reduced burst release. After 60 days of the mineralization studies the hydroxyapatite was formed on the cefazolin-loaded SBA-NH2 surface. This preliminary study supports the potential use of SBA-NH2 as a bifunctional drug carrier with prolonged cefazolin release and mineralization properties.