Functionalization and Polymer Coating – Strategies to improve Drug Delivery from Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Abstract

The mesoporous silica particles (MSNs) have been investigated as potential drug delivery carriers. They have an extensive surface area and pore volume. Many silanol groups are located along the particles' entire outer and inner surfaces. They make it possible to create bonds or interactions between the drug molecules and the carrier. Still, They are also an extremely suitable basis for further functionalization of the particle and pore surface. This review examines how the functionalization of MSNs, on the one hand, allows more successful loading of active substances into their pores and, on the other hand, successfully controls their release. Upon loading sparingly soluble drugs, an improvement in their solubility was found, most likely by amorphization, obtained after crystallization of the problem substance in the delicate pores of these specific carriers. The synthesis of some types of silicate carriers is a method for improving the loading of the particles with active substances is confirmed.