Effects of amine modification of mesoporous magnesium carbonate on controlled drug release.

(3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) was used to modify the surface of mesoporous magnesium carbonate (MMC). The as-synthesized MMC had an average pore diameter of ∼5nm, but amine grafting occurred preferentially on the walls of the largest MMC pores. Analysis of ibuprofen (IBU) loading and release showed that IBU remained stable in the amorphous phase in all the MMC and modified MMC samples. The kinetics of IBU release from the modified MMC were assessed and used to evaluate the effects of the different functional groups. The release rate showed that the release of IBU could be controlled by adjusting the amine surface coverage of MMC and also by changing the surface groups. It was concluded that the interaction between the grafted functional groups in the modified MMC and the OH in the carboxyl groups of IBU was the most important factor for prolonging the release of the drug. These results are expected to lead to investigation of other as yet unexplored applications for MMC, including using it as a plastic additive and for gas separation.