Functionalization of mesoporous materials with long alkyl chains as a strategy for controlling drug delivery pattern

Mesoporous silica SBA-15 was prepared to evaluate its effectiveness as a matrix for the controlled delivery of macrolide-type antibiotics. Two types of material were used to evaluate the delivery: calcined samples and samples functionalized with octyltrimethoxysilane and octadecyltrimethoxysilane. The samples were charged with the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin and the release assays were carried out in vitro. It has-been observed that the release rate decreases as the population of hydrophobic -CH2 moieties in the host increases.