Mesoporous silica submicron particles (MCM-41) incorporating nanoscale Ag: synthesis, characterization and application as drug delivery coatings

Abstract

Mesoporous silica particles (MCM-41) decorated with Ag nanoparticles were prepared by the template ion exchange (TIE) method. The properties of the synthesized material were investigated by several techniques, including the nitrogen sorption measurements, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, the degradability of the particles was tested in simulated body fluid (SBF) in order to evaluate the degradation rate of the material. The silica particles were loaded with different Ag concentrations but no structural changes were observed in the ordered mesoporosity. Already after 1 day of immersion in SBF most of the silver particles were released and partial degradation of the silica particles was observed. Ibuprofen was loaded into the Ag containing MCM-41 particles in order to evaluate their drug up-take/release capability. Silver and silicon ion release was quantified with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The novel silver doped MCM-41 particles were used as a functional coating on bioactive glass (BG) based scaffolds intended for bone tissue engineering application.