Synthesis and study of organo-modified silica based hydrogels: Rheological properties and drug release kinetics.

The method of synthesis of unmodified and organo-modified silica hydrogels and their composites with orotic acid as a model drug was developed. The hydrogels had a pH of 6.5-7.8. The particulate nature and highly porous structures of the hydrogel materials were revealed using scanning electron and optical microscopy methods. The content of aqueous phase in the hydrogels was 99% or more. In order to evaluate the possibility of their application as a basis for development of novel soft drug formulations and cosmetic compositions, rheological properties of the hydrogels and in vitro release kinetics of the drug were studied. The effects of synthesis conditions (increasing concentration of catalyst of silica sol formation, drug loading) and the silica matrix modification with various organic groups on the indicated properties were investigated. It was found that all synthesized hydrogels exhibited pseudoplasticity, thixotropy and controlled release of the drug, which are important for their potential application. However, in general, the indicated effects led to worsening the properties of the hydrogel materials in comparison with the unmodified silica hydrogels.

Development of Novel Oral Formulations of Disulfide Antioxidants Based on Porous Silica for Controlled Release of the Drugs.

Powerful antioxidant α-lipoic acid (LA) exhibits limited therapeutic efficiency due to its pharmacokinetic properties. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the ability of silica-based composites of LA as well as its amide (lipoamide, LM), as new oral drug formulations, to control their release and maintain their therapeutic concentration and antioxidant activity in the body over a long time. The composites synthesized at different sol-gel synthesis pH and based on silica matrixes with various surface chemistry were investigated. The release behavior of the composites in media mimicking pH of digestive fluids (pH 1.6, 6.8, and 7.4) was revealed. The effects of chemical structure of the antioxidants, synthesis pH, surface chemistry of the silica matrixes in the composites as well as the pH of release medium on kinetic parameters of the drug release and mechanisms of the process were discussed. The comparative analysis of the obtained data allowed the determination of the most promising composites. Using these composites, modeling of the release process of the antioxidants in accordance with transit conditions of the drugs in stomach, proximal, and distal parts of small intestine and colon was carried out. The composites exhibited the release close to the zero order kinetics and maintained the therapeutic concentration of the drugs and antioxidant effect in all parts of the intestine for up to 24 h. The obtained results showed that encapsulation of LA and LM in the silica matrixes is a promising way to improve their bioavailability and antioxidant activity.

Effects of synthesis conditions and release medium pH on release properties of acyclovir - mercaptopropyl modified silica composite.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prospect of use of mercaptopropyl modified silica as a platform for development of new oral formulation of antiviral drug acyclovir (ACV) which is able to control release of the drug irrespective of release medium pH. METHODS: The composites of ACV with mercaptopropyl modified silica were synthesized using sol-gel technology under different conditions (synthesis pH, drug loading). The composites were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and differential scanning calorimetry methods. The effects of the synthesis conditions on physicochemical properties of the prepared composites and their release properties were studied. RESULTS: The sol-gel synthesis conditions and release medium pH influence significantly release properties of the composites. The influence was explained by contributions of different factors, such as the drug-silica interactions in the composites, structure of the silica matrix and its stability in release media, hydrophobic nature of ACV, its pH-dependent solubility. It was found that all the synthesized composites followed the zero-order kinetics which is controlled by anomalous diffusion. CONCLUSION: The studies showed that the composites exhibited controlled release of ACV up to 80 h. However, the release properties of the drug depend significantly on pH of release medium, i.e. the release properties (the release rate, the amount of released ACV) will change during transition of the composites through various segments of GIT. Therefore, the synthesized composites are not a promising basis for development of new oral dosage form of ACV.

Development of Novel Silica-based Formulation of α-Lipoic Acid: Evaluation of Photo and Thermal Stability of the Encapsulated Drug.

Powerful antioxidant α-lipoic acid (LA) is easily degraded under light and heating. This creates difficulties in its manufacture, storage and reduces efficiency and safety of the drug. The purpose of this work was to synthesize novel silica-based composites of LA and evaluate their ability to increase photo and thermal stability of the drug. It was assumed that the drug stabilization can be achieved due to LA-silica interactions. Therefore, the composites of LA with unmodified and organomodified silica matrixes were synthesized by sol-gel method at the synthesis pH below or above the pKa of the drug. The effects of silica matrix modification and the synthesis pH on the LA-silica interactions and kinetics of photo and thermal degradation of LA in the composites were studied. The nature of the interactions was revealed by FTIR spectroscopy. It was found that the rate of thermal degradation of the drug in the composites was significantly lower compared to free LA and mainly determined by the LA-silica interactions. However, photodegradation of LA in the composites under UV irradiation was either close to that for free drug or significantly more rapid. It was shown that kinetics of photodegradation was independent of the interactions and likely determined by physical properties of surface of the composite particles (porosity and reflectivity). The most promising composites for further development of novel silica-based formulations were identified.

Preparation of mesoporous silica microparticles by sol-gel/emulsion route for protein release.

Encapsulation of therapeutic proteins into particles from appropriate material can improve both stability and delivery of the drugs, and the obtained particles can serve as a platform for development of their new oral formulations. The main goal of this work was development of sol-gel/emulsion method for preparation of silica microcapsules capable of controlled release of encapsulated protein without loss of its native structure. For this purpose, the reported in literature direct sol-gel/W/O/W emulsion method of protein encapsulation was used with some modifications, because the original method did not allow to prepare silica microcapsules capable for protein release. The particles were synthesized using sodium silicate and tetraethoxysilane as silica precursors and different compositions of oil phase. In vitro kinetics of bovine serum albumin (BSA) release in buffer (pH 7.4) was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and fluorescence spectrometry, respectively. Structural state of encapsulated BSA and after release was evaluated. It was found that the synthesis conditions influenced substantially the porous structure of the unloaded silica particles, release properties of the BSA-loaded silica particles and structural state of the encapsulated and released protein. The modified synthesis conditions made it possible to obtain the silica particles capable of controlled release of the protein during a week without loss of the protein native structure.

Development of Novel Warfarin-Silica Composite for Controlled Drug Release.

PURPOSE: The work is devoted to synthesis and study of warfarin composites with unmodified, methyl and phenyl modified silica in order to develop controlled release formulation of the anticoagulant. METHODS: The composites were prepared by two routes, adsorption and sol-gel, and characterized with FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and DSC methods. The drug release behavior from the composites in media with pH 1.6, 6.8 and 7.4 was analyzed in vitro. The release kinetics of the warfarin - silica composites prepared by the two routes was compared among each other and with analogous silica composites with water soluble drug molsidomine. RESULTS: The comparative analysis showed that in general the kinetic regularities and mechanisms of release for both drugs are similar and determined by nonuniform distribution of the drugs over the silica matrixes and stability of the matrixes in the studied media for the adsorbed composites and uniformly distributed drug and more brittle structure for the sol-gel composites. CONCLUSIONS: The sol-gel composite of warfarin - phenyl modified silica is perspective for further development of novel warfarin formulation with controlled release because it releases warfarin according to zero-order kinetic law with approximately equal rate in the media imitating different segments of gastrointestinal tract.

Sol-gel Derived Warfarin - Silica Composites for Controlled Drug Release.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin, commonly used anticoagulant in clinic, has serious shortcomings due to its unsatisfactory pharmacodynamics. One of the efficient ways for the improvement of pharmacological and consumer properties of drugs is the development of optimal drug delivery systems. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work is to synthesize novel warfarin - silica composites and to study in vitro the drug release kinetics to obtain the composites with controlled release. METHODS: The composites of warfarin with unmodified (UMS) and mercaptopropyl modified silica (MPMS) were synthesized by sol-gel method. The composite formation was confirmed by FTIR spectra. The concentrations of warfarin released to media with pH 1.6, 6.8 and 7.4 were measured using UV spectroscopy. The drug release profiles from the solid composites were described by a series of kinetic models which includes zero order kinetics, first order kinetics, the modified Korsmeyer-Peppas model and Hixson-Crowell model. RESULTS: The synthesized sol-gel composites have different kinetic behavior in the studied media. In contrast to the warfarin composite with unmodified silica, the drug release from the composite with mercaptopropyl modified silica follows zero order kinetics for 24 h irrespective to the release medium pH due to mixed mechanism (duffusion + degradation and/or disintegration of silica matrix). CONCLUSION: The obtained results showed that warfarin - silica sol-gel composites have a potential application for the development of novel oral formulation of the drug with controlled delivery.

Development of Novel Delivery System for Cardiovascular Drug Molsidomine: Influence of Synthesis Method and Conditions on Molsidomine Release From Its Composites With Hydrophilic Silica In Vitro.

Composites of cardiovascular drug molsidomine with silica materials (unmodified and mercaptopropyl modified) were prepared by 2 methods, adsorption and sol-gel technology. The effects of sol pH and release medium pH (1.6 and 7.4) as well as molsidomine loading on the drug release kinetics were also investigated. Mechanisms of molsidomine release from all the synthesized composites were elucidated. The obtained results showed that different principles of the composites formation (adsorption or sol-gel) lead to their different release behavior because the composites obtained by the indicated methods differ by distribution of the drug over the silica matrixes and their capability to degradation. The drug release from the composites prepared by adsorption is characterized by a high burst effect, sustained release up to 36 h irrespective of release medium pH. The release behavior of sol-gel composites depends on the amount of the loaded drug and release medium pH. These effects were explained by different stability of the sol-gel composites with high and low loading in acidic and neutral media. In general case, the ascertained effects are independent on chemistry of the silica surface organic groups.

Development of novel delivery system for warfarin based on mesoporous silica: adsorption characteristics of silica materials for the anticoagulant.

The adsorption of the anticoagulant warfarin onto unmodified (UMS) and modified (phenyl (PhMS), methyl (MMS), mercaptopropyl (MPMS)) mesoporous silica materials was studied at pH 1.6 and 7.4 and in the temperature range of 293-325 K. The silica materials were prepared by sol-gel method for further characterization by FTIR spectroscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption method, transmission electron microscopy and zeta potential measurements. The effects of medium pH, temperature and surface modification of mesoporous silica material on their adsorption characteristics (adsorption capacity, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption) relative to anticoagulant warfarin were investigated. It was found that medium acid-base properties strongly affect the adsorption of warfarin due to the pH-dependent structural diversity of the drug and ionization state of the silica surfaces. The adsorption capacity of the silica materials at pH 1.6 decreases in the order: MMS > MPMS > UMS > PhMS. The influence of various non-covalent interactions on the adsorption capacity of the silica materials and energy of the drug-silica interactions is discussed. These results may be useful for the development of a novel delivery system of warfarin.

Design of silica carrier for controlled release of molsidomine: effect of preparation methods of silica matrixes and their composites with molsidomine on the drug release kinetics in vitro.

Biodegradable, controlled-release carrier materials with non-toxic degradation products are very valuable for delivery of cardiovascular drugs. This study is a part of development of novel form of vasodilator molsidomine to improve pharmacokinetic and consumer properties of the drug. It focuses on the effect of preparation methods of the drug-silica composites on their release kinetics. Phenyl modified silica materials prepared by different ways were studied as potential carriers for molsidomine. The composites of molsidomine with the modified silica were synthesized via one-step sol-gel route and adsorption. The drug was adsorbed onto the phenyl modified silica prepared by co-condensation and grafting. Furthermore, the one-step sol-gel derived composites were prepared at pH 4.4 (the isoelectric point of the drug) and pH 6.3 (the zero point of charge of the silica). In vitro release kinetics of molsidomine from the synthesized composites in simulated gastric (pH 1.6) and simulated blood (pH 7.4) media was studied. Our findings demonstrate that the release of the drug can be controlled by manipulating the synthesis ways and changing the sol-gel pH. The comparative analysis of molsidomine release profiles from the composites prepared by one-step sol-gel synthesis at different pH and adsorption allows to reveal perspective composites which exhibit sustained release of molsidomine for about 36h in acidic medium close to the zero order release kinetics.

In vitro studies of interaction of modified silica nanoparticles with different types of immunocompetent cells.

Interactions between different types of immune cells and organically-modified silica nanoparticles were studied. The silica particles functionalized with amine groups were prepared by sol-gel technique. Sheep immunoglobulin labeled with fluoresceine isothiocyanate was immobilized by adsorption onto the nanoparticles. The presence of the functional groups was confirmed by infrared absorption measurements. The level of immunocompetent cells interacting with the silica nanoparticles was estimated as the amount of fluorescence-bright cells by flow cytometry method. A low level of interaction of the peripheral blood lymphocytes with the silica nanoparticles was found. On the contrary, the macrophages are actively involved in interaction with the silica nanoparticles. The influence of different size of the silica nanoparticles and incubation time on viability and functional activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages were investigated.

X-ray diffraction and IR spectral characteristics of zinc(II)tetra-tert-butylphthalocyanine.

According to well-known procedures, alpha- and beta-crystal polymorphic modifications of zinc(II)tetra-tert-butylphthalocianine (Zn(t-Bu)4Pc) were prepared and X-ray analysis of their powders was carried out. It was found that four tert-butyl groups in Zn(t-Bu)4Pc molecule do not prevent the formation of the alpha- and beta-polymorphs. The alpha- and beta-polymorphs differ from each other mainly by a mutual arrangement of neighboring metallophthalocyenine molecules in pi-stacking. Comparison of IR spectra of the alpha- and beta-polymorphs of ZnPc and Zn(t-Bu)4Pc was carried out. It was indicated that new bands appear at 670-690, 1256 and 1362 cm(-1) in the spectrum of Zn(t-Bu)4Pc in comparison with that of ZnPc. The appearance of new band at 1256 cm(-1) is assigned to rocking C-CH(3) vibrations and the band at 1362 cm(-1) to symmetrical deformational C-H vibrations of methyl groups of the peripheral substitutes. The main spectral characteristics for identification of the polymorphic modifications of Zn(t-Bu)4Pc are listed.

Interaction between some monosaccharides and aspartic acid in dilute aqueous solutions.

Interaction between aspartic acid and D-glucose, D-galactose, and D-fructose has been studied by isothermal titration calorimetry, calorimetry of dissolution, and densimetry. It has been found that D-glucose and D-fructose form thermodynamically stable associates with aspartic acid, in contrast to D-galactose. The selectivity in the interaction of aspartic acid with monosaccharides is affected by their stereochemical structures.