Silica nanoparticles applied in production of drug nanocarriers

Iranian researchers used new cheap materials through a simple method to synthesize biodegradable and biocompatible nanocarriers which control the rate and amount of drug release.

In conventional drug delivery systems, alternative consumption of drugs varies the concentration of drug in blood stream between harmful and ineffective. Novel drug release systems are used to overcome the problems caused by conventional drug delivery systems.

Controlled release of drugs enables the transfer of active chemical materials to the target tissue in the required time and speed. Therefore, the rate of release and the concentration of the drug can be adjusted to the desirable level. In addition, when the sufficient amount of drug is loaded on a biocompatible and biodegradable bed, the number of drug consumption decreases.

The nanocarrier synthesized in this research is made of porous silica nanoparticles with modified surface. This nanocarrier has been designed for the loading of ibuprofen that is an anti-inflammation and pain killer drug.

According to the researchers, drug release tests showed that the modification of silica nanoparticles surfaces by using amine functional groups significantly increases the loading of the drug but decreases the rate of the release. Therefore, the slow release of the drug prevents the unwanted and harmful effects and excess consumption of the drug.

Results of the research have been published in DRUG DELIVERY, vol. 21, issue 3, 2014, pp. 164-172.