Aerogels as carriers for immediate and controlled drug release
Multi-scale and/or multi-disciplinary approach to process-product innovation
Nanotechnology: New Developments (T3-6)
Keywords: immediate drug release aerogel
Aerogels are low-density nanoporous solids with a fine, open-pore structure. Their unique properties derive from the method of preparation, which produces extremely fine pores (5 to 100 nm), very high surface areas (500 to 1000 m2/g), low densities (0.003 to 0.15 g/cm3) and unusual microstructure.
The chemistry of aerogel materials is rather flexible: their pore size and surface area can be tailored; furthermore different functional groups can be implemented in order to provide effective drug-aerogel interactions and so to influence the release kinetics.
The dissolution rate of poorly soluble drugs can be significantly improved through the adsorption on silica aerogels. Te release rate of the drug depends on the aerogel’s properties. In case of hydrophilic aerogels an extremely fast release of drugs -even compared to nanocrystals- is achieved, which is especially advantageous for poorly water soluble drugs. Hydrophobic aerogels exhibit slower release, which is governed by diffusion.
So it is possible to tailor the release kinetics of drugs by changing the aerogel properties (hydrophobicity, density, surface area, pore size). Being applied in semisolid formulations, silica aerogels increase both the penetration rate and the amount of penetrated drug into artificial membranes. Thus silica aerogels are suggested as drug carriers for oral and dermal applications. A number of applications are given.
Presented Tuesday 18, 12:00 to 12:20, in session Nanotechnology: New Developments (T3-6).
