Development of functionalized chitosan-coated carboxylated mesoporous silica: a dual drug carrier

The principle aim of the present study is to synthesis a novel mesoporous silica-based dual drug delivery system (DDDS) with unique features for the delivery of amoxicillin (antibiotic) and thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin). The DDDS was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force micrographs analyses. The stimuli response behaviour of the drug carrier was studied by conducting swelling experiments as a function of pH and time. Drug release studies were carried out by mimicking gastric and intestinal conditions and found that the release of both drugs attained its maximum in the intestinal condition. The in vitro release data were analysed using Peppa's potential equation in order to predict the release mechanism. The release of antibiotic follows non-Fickian mechanism whereas that of vitamin was diffusion controlled. An in vitro cytotoxicity analysis was carried out on L929 cells and the results showed that the synthesized DDDS is safe. DPPH assay and antibacterial activity were also analysed. From the investigation, it is evident that the prepared DDDS has potential application as dual drug carrier.