Drug delivery systems based on inorganic materials: I. Synthesis and characterization of a zeolite-cyclophosphamide system.

Porous material of the CuX zeolite type has been synthesized and used as support for a classic antitumoral drug--cyclophosphamide (CP). The new material obtained represents a physical mixture of the two components. In vivo tests allowed biochemical and anatomopathological evaluation of antitumoral effects determined by oral administration of the CuX zeolite-CP system. Data obtained show that the intensity of the antitumoral effects of the CuX zeolite-CP system is similar as compared to that achieved by CP. A possible advantage of the CuX zeolite-CP system is the continual maintenance in the blood of a CP concentration ranging between 100 and 1,000 ng ml-1 plasma.