pH-responsive controlled-release system based on mesoporous bioglass materials capped with mineralized hydroxyapatite

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Controlled drug release systems are crucial for targeted therapy.
• pH-responsive materials offer advantages for localized drug delivery.
• Mesoporous bioglass (MBG) is a promising drug carrier material.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel pH-sensitive controlled release system.
• To utilize mesoporous bioglass (MBG) capped with hydroxyapatite (HAp) for drug delivery.
• To investigate the controlled release of metformin hydrochloride (MH) in response to pH changes.

Main Methods:

• A spontaneous mineralization method was used to cap MBG pores with HAp.
• Metformin hydrochloride (MH) was loaded during the mineralization process.
• The pH-responsive drug release was evaluated in vitro.

Main Results:

• The HAp capping effectively controlled the release of MH.
• The system demonstrated significant pH-sensitive drug release, with higher release in acidic conditions due to HAp degradation.
• Drug release kinetics were tunable by adjusting mineralization time and ion concentration.

Conclusions:

• The developed MBG-HAp system is a simple, green, and effective pH-sensitive drug delivery vehicle.
• This system shows potential for targeted drug delivery to low pH tissues like tumors and inflammatory sites.
• The tunable release kinetics make it a versatile platform for controlled drug delivery applications.