Ordered mesoporous silica and carbon as controlled release systems for cephalexin: Influence of surface modification and porosity

This study compares two in vitro loading and release systems for the antibiotic cephalexin (CFX), based on ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-15) and carbon (CMK-5) materials, both pure and modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Drug loading was performed using the adsorption method under constant conditions (pH: 6, T: 30 degrees C, and t: 8 h), and the release mechanisms were investigated at gastric and intestinal pH to understand the phenomena involved in the oral delivery of CFX studied. The results revealed a higher adsorption capacity of CMK-5 due to its microporosity and it-it stacking interactions compared to SBA-15. Furthermore, the presence of functional groups prevented the formation of crystalline phases by adsorption on the external surface. A reduction in the release rate of CFX was observed with both carriers, governed by a Fickian diffusion mechanism. Notably, CMK-5 exhibited a higher release rate at gastric pH compared to SBA-15, while the opposite was true at intestinal pH. These findings provide deeper insights into the behavior of carriers with different chemical compositions in antibiotic release, suggesting their potential as an alternative to address issues associated with the dosing frequency of these drugs.