MCM-41 organic modification as drug delivery rate regulator

Organic modification with aminopropyl group of two MCM-41 materials having different pore sizes (obtained from trimethylalkylammonium surfactants with different chain sizes (16 and 12 carbon atoms)) has been carried out in order to control the delivery rate of ibuprofen from the siliceous matrix. This functionalization was performed by two different methods: the as-synthesized MCM-41 sample was treated with aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (method a), and the MCM-41 was first calcined and then funtionalized by reaction with aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (method b). The amount of ibuprofen adsorbed from hexane solution is lower for the C12 derived materials. A slower delivery rate has been observed for method b, whereas a minor influence of the pore size on the delivery rate has been found.