pH-responsive carrier system based on carboxylic acid modified mesoporous silica and polyelectrolyte for drug delivery

An efficient pH-responsive carrier system has been constructed by oppositely charged ionic interaction between carboxylic acid modified SBA-15 silica rods and polyelectrolyte. Active molecules such as vancomycin can be stored and released from the pore voids of SBA-15 by changing pH values at will. The amount of vancomycin stored in the pores of sample based on carboxylic acid modified SBA-15 rods and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) is up to 36.4 wt % at pH 6.8. When the pH is at mild acidity, vancomycin is steadily released from the pores of SBA-15. Both nitrogen adsorption-desorption isothems and X-ray diffraction patterns show that this system possesses stable mesostructure, which will be considered an interesting alternative to a polymeric delivery system.