Drug Delivery Devices Based on Mesoporous Silicate

3D Printed Chitosan/Alginate Hydrogels for the Controlled Release of Silver Sulfadiazine in Wound Healing Applications: Design, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity

The growing demand for personalized medicine requires innovation in drug manufacturing to combine versatility with automation. Here, three-dimensional (3D) printing was explored for the production of chitosan (CH)/alginate (ALG)-based hydrogels intended as active dressings for wound healing. ALG hydrogels were loaded with 0.75% w/v silver sulfadiazine (SSD), selected as a drug model commonly used for the therapeutic treatment of infected burn wounds, and four different 3D CH/ALG architectures were designed to modulate the release of this active compound. CH/ALG constructs were characterized by their water content, elasticity and porosity. ALG hydrogels (Young's modulus 0.582 ± 0.019 Mpa) were statistically different in terms of elasticity compared to CH (Young's modulus 0.365 ± 0.015 Mpa) but very similar in terms of swelling properties (water content in ALG: 93.18 ± 0.88% and in CH: 92.76 ± 1.17%). In vitro SSD release tests were performed by using vertical diffusion Franz cells, and statistically significant different behaviors in terms of the amount and kinetics of drugs released were observed as a function of the construct. Moreover, strong antimicrobial potency (100% of growth inhibition) against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was demonstrated depending on the type of construct, offering a proof of concept that 3D printing techniques could be efficiently applied to the production of hydrogels for controlled drug delivery.

Low-cost zeolitic carriers for delivery of hydroxychloroquine immunomodulatory agent with antiviral activity

The coronavirus pandemic prompted scientists to look for active pharmaceutical ingredients that could be effective in treating COVID-19. One of them was hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial and immunomodulatory agent exhibiting antiviral activity. The anchoring of this drug on porous carriers enables control of its delivery to a specific place in the body, and thus increases bioavailability. In this work, we developed low-cost zeolitic platforms for hydroxychloroquine. The waste solution generated during zeolite production from fly ashes was used in the synthesis of Na-A and Na-X carriers at laboratory and technical scale. The materials were characterized by high purity and single mineral phase composition. The surface charge of zeolites varied from negative at pH 5.8, and 7.2, to positive at pH 1.2. All samples indicated good sorption ability towards hydroxychloroquine. The mechanism of drug adsorption was based on electrostatic interactions and followed the Freundlich model. Zeolitic carriers modified the hydroxychloroquine release profiles at conditions mimicking the pH of body fluids. The mode of drug liberation was affected by particle size distributions, morphological forms, and chemical compositions of zeolites. The most hydroxychloroquine controlled release at pH 5.8 for the Na-X material was noted, which indicates that it can enhance the drug therapeutic efficacy.

Structure-Property Relationship for Different Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and its Drug Delivery Applications: A Review

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are widely used as a promising candidate for drug delivery applications due to silica’s favorable biocompatibility, thermal stability, and chemical properties. Silica’s unique mesoporous structure allows for effective drug loading and controlled release at the target site. In this review, we have discussed various methods of MSNs’ mechanism, properties, and its drug delivery applications. As a result, we came to the conclusion that more in vivo biocompatibility studies, toxicity studies, bio-distribution studies and clinical research are essential for MSN advancement.

Diflunisal Targeted Delivery Systems: A Review

Diflunisal is a well-known drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, primary dysmenorrhea, and colon cancer. This molecule belongs to the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and thus possesses serious side effects such as cardiovascular diseases risk development, renal injury, and hepatic reactions. The last clinical data demonstrated that diflunisal is one of the recognized drugs for the treatment of cardiac amyloidosis and possesses a survival benefit similar to that of clinically approved tafamidis. Diflunisal stabilizes the transthyretin (TTR) tetramer and prevents the misfolding of monomers and dimers from forming amyloid deposits in the heart. To avoid serious side effects of diflunisal, the various delivery systems have been developed. In the present review, attention is given to the recent development of diflunisal-loaded delivery systems, its technology, release profiles, and effectiveness.

Study on the influence of technological factors on drug loading of poorly water-soluble drug on MCM-41 mesoporous carrier

The present study explored solvent impregnation drug loading process of the poorly soluble non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin on MCM-41 type mesoporous silica carrier. Different technological factors that can influence drug-loading process as time of reaction, temperature, use of non-solvent as well as different ratios between drug and MCM-41 were studied. TEM and DLS were used to characterize physicochemical properties of obtained particles. The influence of drug-loading rate on dissolution process were studied using in-vitro release tests. Our results established that changes in explored technological factors could lead to different indomethacin loading. Moreover, the in-vitro release tests proved that drug loading rate had a direct influence on indomethacin release from MCM-41 particles.

Our finding suggested that by tuning the main technological factors it would be possible different drug delivery systems with different drug loading rate to be obtained.

Mesoporous silica-based hybrid materials for bone-specific drug delivery

A mesoporous silica-based drug delivery device potentially useful for bone-specific drug delivery has been designed, developed and characterized starting from MSU-type mesoporous silica. The proposed system consists of a mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) based vehicle, presenting alendronate as a targeting functionality for bone tissue while ibuprofen is used as a model molecule for the drugs to be delivered. The particles are functionalized on the external surface using a propionitrile derivative that is successively hydrolyzed to a carboxylic group. Alendronate, one of the most used member of the diphosphonate drug class, is electrostatically bonded to the external carboxyl functionalities of mesoporous silica. The obtained material has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption-desorption porosimetry, UV-vis spectrophotometry, FT-IR spectrometry and MAS-NMR ¹³C and ²⁹Si. Hydroxyapatite, which simulates the bone matrix, has been synthesized with the aim of testing the targeting activity of the obtained device. In a separate test, the MSNs have been loaded with ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and its release has been determined under neutral conditions by HPLC. Moreover, biological tests were carried out. The tested devices did not show any toxicity towards normal cells, confirming their high biocompatibility and the lack of off-target effects.

Single Crystal FLIM Characterization of Clofazimine Loaded in Silica-Based Mesoporous Materials and Zeolites

Clofazimine (CLZ) is an effective antibiotic used against a wide spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria and leprosy. One of its main drawbacks is its poor solubility in water. Silica based materials are used as drug delivery carriers that can increase the solubility of different hydrophobic drugs. Here, we studied how the properties of the silica framework of the mesoporous materials SBA-15, MCM-41, Al-MCM-41, and zeolites NaX, NaY, and HY affect the loading, stability, and distribution of encapsulated CLZ. Time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) experiments show the presence of neutral and protonated CLZ (1.3-3.8 ns) and weakly interacting aggregates (0.4-0.9 ns), along with H- and J-type aggregates (<0.1 ns). For the mesoporous and HY zeolite composites, the relative contribution to the overall emission spectra from H-type aggregates is low (<10%), while for the J-type aggregates it becomes higher (~30%). For NaX and NaY the former increased whereas the latter decreased. Although the CLZ@mesoporous composites show higher loading compared to the CLZ@zeolites ones, the behavior of CLZ is not uniform and its dynamics are more heterogeneous across different single mesoporous particles. These results may have implication in the design of silica-based drug carriers for better loading and release mechanisms of hydrophobic drugs.

Dealing with Skin and Blood-Brain Barriers: The Unconventional Challenges of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Advances in nanotechnology for drug delivery are fostering significant progress in medicine and diagnostics. The multidisciplinary nature of the nanotechnology field encouraged the development of innovative strategies and materials to treat a wide range of diseases in a highly specific way, which allows reducing the drug dosage and, consequently, improving the patient's compliance. Due to their good biocompatibility, easy synthesis, and high versatility, inorganic frameworks represent a valid tool to achieve this aim. In this context, Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles (MSNs) are emerging in the biomedical field. For their ordered porosity and high functionalizable surface, achievable with an inexpensive synthesis process and being non-hazardous to biological tissues, MSNs offer ideal solutions to host, protect, and transport drugs to specific target sites. Extensive literature exists on the use of MSNs as targeted vehicles for systemic (chemo) therapy and for imaging/diagnostic purposes. However, the aim of this review is to give an overview of the last updates on the potential applications of the MSNs for Topical Drug Delivery (TDD) and as drug delivery systems into the brain, discussing their performances and advantages in dealing with these intriguing biological barriers.

Porous Inorganic Drug Delivery Systems-a Review

Innovative methods and materials have been developed to overcome limitations associated with current drug delivery systems. Significant developments have led to the use of a variety of materials (as excipients) such as inorganic and metallic structures, marking a transition from conventional polymers. Inorganic materials, especially those possessing significant porosity, are emerging as good candidates for the delivery of a range of drugs (antibiotics, anticancer and anti-inflammatories), providing several advantages in formulation and engineering (encapsulation of drug in amorphous form, controlled delivery and improved targeting). This review focuses on key selected developments in porous drug delivery systems. The review provides a short broad overview of porous polymeric materials for drug delivery before focusing on porous inorganic materials (e.g. Santa Barbara Amorphous (SBA) and Mobil Composition of Matter (MCM)) and their utilisation in drug dosage form development. Methods for their preparation and drug loading thereafter are detailed. Several examples of porous inorganic materials, drugs used and outcomes are discussed providing the reader with an understanding of advances in the field and realistic opportunities.

Mesostructured silica and aluminosilicate carriers for oxytetracycline delivery systems

Oxytetracycline delivery systems containing various MCM-type silica and aluminosilicate with different antibiotic content were developed in order to establish the influence of the support structural and textural properties and aluminum content on the drug release profile. The antibiotic molecules were loaded into the support mesochannels by incipient wetness impregnation method using a drug concentrated aqueous solution. The carriers and drug-loaded materials were investigated by small- and wide-angle XRD, FTIR spectroscopy, TEM and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. Faster release kinetics of oxytetracycline from uncalcined silica and aluminosilicate supports was observed, whereas higher drug content led to lower delivery rate. The presence of aluminum into the silica network also slowed down the release rate. The antimicrobial assays performed on Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates showed that the oxytetracycline-loaded materials containing MCM-41-type mesoporous silica or aluminosilicate carriers inhibited the bacterial development.

Fabrication of a nano-drug delivery system based on layered rare-earth hydroxides integrating drug-loading and fluorescence properties

Intercalation of naproxen (NPX) into LEuH to form nanocomposites with low cytotoxic effects, which can control the release of NPX.

Percolation Diffusion into Self-Assembled Mesoporous Silica Microfibres

Percolation diffusion into long (11.5 cm) self-assembled, ordered mesoporous microfibres is studied using optical transmission and laser ablation inductive coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Optical transmission based diffusion studies reveal rapid penetration (<5 s, D > 80 μm²∙s^-¹) of Rhodamine B with very little percolation of larger molecules such as zinc tetraphenylporphyrin (ZnTPP) observed under similar loading conditions. The failure of ZnTPP to enter the microfibre was confirmed, in higher resolution, using LA-ICP-MS. In the latter case, LA-ICP-MS was used to determine the diffusion of zinc acetate dihydrate, D~3 × 10^-4 nm²∙s^-1. The large differences between the molecules are accounted for by proposing ordered solvent and structure assisted accelerated diffusion of the Rhodamine B based on its hydrophilicity relative to the zinc compounds. The broader implications and applications for filtration, molecular sieves and a range of devices and uses are described.

Immobilization of bile salt hydrolase enzyme on mesoporous SBA-15 for co-precipitation of cholesterol

We describe herein a simple and effective strategy for immobilization of bile salt hydrolase enzyme by grafting glutaraldehyde groups inside channels of APTES functionalized SBA-15. The increase in glutaraldehyde concentration prevents leakage of enzyme but showed a steep decrease in enzyme activity in the immobilized matrix. So the degree of cross-linking should be the minimum possible to ensure sufficient stability without loss of activity. Cross-linking carried out with 0.1% glutaraldehyde concentration showed the highest activity, so this was used in all further experiments. Physico-chemical characterizations of the immobilized enzyme were carried out by XRD, N2 adsorption, TEM, FTIR and (29)Si CP-MAS NMR techniques. Immobilized BSH exhibits enhanced stability over a wide pH (3-11) and temperature range (40-80 °C) and retains an activity even after recycling experiments and six months of storage. From our in vivo research experiment toward co-precipitation of cholesterol, we have shown that immobilized BSH enzyme may be the promising catalyst for the reduction of serum cholesterol levels in our preliminary investigation. Enhancement in pH stability at the extreme side of pH may favor the use of immobilized BSH enzyme for drug delivery purpose to with stand extreme pH conditions in the gastrointestinal conditions.

Bioceramics: from bone regeneration to cancer nanomedicine

Research on biomaterials has been growing in the last few years due to the clinical needs in organs and tissues replacement and regeneration. In addition, cancer nanomedicine has recently appeared as an effective means to combine nanotechnology developments towards a clinical application. Ceramic materials are suitable candidates to be used in the manufacturing of bone-like scaffolds. Bioceramic materials may also be designed to deliver biologically active substances aimed at repairing, maintaining, restoring or improving the function of organs and tissues in the organism. Several materials such as calcium phosphates, glasses and glass ceramics able to load and subsequently release in a controlled fashion drugs, hormones, growth factors, peptides or nucleic acids have been developed. In particular, to prevent post surgical infections bioceramics may be surface modified and loaded with certain antibiotics, thus preventing the formation of bacterial biofilms. Remarkably, mesoporous bioactive glasses have shown excellent characteristics as drug carrying bone regeneration materials. These bioceramics are not only osteoconductive and osteoproductive, but also osteoinductive, and have therefore been proposed as ideal components for the fabrication of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. A recent promising development of bioceramic materials is related to the design of magnetic mediators against tumors. Magnetic composites are suitable thermoseeds for cancer treatment by hyperthermia. Moreover, magnetic nanomaterials offer a wide range of possibilities for diagnosis and therapy. These nanoparticles may be conjugated with therapeutic agents and heat the surrounding tissue under the action of alternating magnetic fields, enabling hyperthermia of cancer as an effective adjunct to chemotherapy regimens.

General description of the adsorption of proteins at their iso-electric point in nanoporous materials

A simple but remarkably precise geometric pore-filling model is proposed and experimentally validated for the adsorption of proteins at their iso-electric point (pI) in nanoporous materials. Three different globular proteins-lysozyme, myoglobin, and bovine serum albumin-are used as model proteins to study protein adsorption on two types of ordered mesoporous materials-silica and carbon-which allows us to study the effects of protein and surface structure on the protein adsorption mechanism. The geometric pore-filling model confirms that proteins are closely packed inside the pore channels of mesoporous materials, leading to an exceptionally large protein loading capacity. A relationship for the amount of adsorbed protein as a function of protein size, nanopore volume, and pore diameter is derived. The pore space gradually fills up to complete packing of the available pore space at the highest protein concentration. The high precision of the geometric pore-filling model demonstrates its utility to predict the protein adsorption capacity of ordered nanoporous materials.

Dendritic Macromolecules: New Possibilities for Advanced Bioceramics

Dendrimers are a relatively new class of molecules that display a variety of potentially useful architecture-induced properties. In this chapter, we firstly present a general description of this interesting class of macromolecules, making special emphasis in their current biomedical applications. The combination of dendrimers with ceramics, traditionally used in the biomedical field, provides synergistic features and functions to the resulting hybrid materials. After the dendrimers introduction, an overall description of mesoporous silicas, iron oxide nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes bioceramics, is presented. Finally, recent research examples of dendrimer-functionalized ceramics, both from the synthetic and biomedical applicative points of view, are reviewed.

Nanostructured mesoporous silica matrices in nanomedicine

In the last few years the biomedical research field has shown a growing interest towards nanostructured mesoporous silica materials, whose chemical composition is silica and present nanometric pores. These bioceramics exhibit two important features: they can regenerate osseous tissues--the bond bioactivity of these materials has been confirmed by the formation of biological-like nanoapatites on their surface when in contact with physiological fluids--and they are able to act as controlled release systems. Drugs in the nanometre scale can be loaded on those matrices and then locally released in a controlled fashion. It is possible to chemically modify the silica walls to favour the adsorption of certain biomolecules such as peptides, proteins or growth factors. It is even possible to design smart biomaterials where the drug is released under an external stimulus. Thus, looking at all those properties, a question arises: Have these bioceramics good expectations to be used in clinical medical practice? Their biocompatibility, bioactivity, capacity to regenerate bone and ability to act as controlled release systems of biologically active species have been confirmed. In fact, their preliminary in vitro and in vivo essays have been positive. Now it is the time to adequate all these properties to the actual clinical problems, and to evaluate their efficiency in comparison with materials already known and currently employed such as bioglasses.