PH sensitive mesoporous materials for immediate or controlled release of NSAID

The aim of this research was to investigate novel mesoporous materials, polysaccharide aerogels, as drug delivery carries in order to achieve controlled release of a model drug, diclofenac sodium. Pectin, alginate and composite pectin alginate aerogels were prepared by cross-linking with three different ions, zinc, strontium and calcium. Calcium ions are not the best cross-linkers when controlled release is desired, since the release of a model drug was achieved in initial 1 h. Oppositely, zinc cross-linking provided more controlled release of diclofenac sodium. Therefore, zinc cross-linked pectin aerogels were used as the final drug delivery carriers in order to compare the release profile with two commercially available drugs. Pectin zinc aerogel capsule degraded completely within the 24 h, oppositely both commercial drugs did not degrade even after 72 h. Moreover, the release profiles of all three tested drugs were dissimilar. Pectin zinc aerogel capsule released 80% of the model drugs in 7 h, first commercial drug around 60% and second commercial drug nearly 100%. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.