Aminopropyl groups of the functionalized Mobil Crystalline Material 41 as a carrier for controlled diclofenac sodium and piroxicam delivery

Objectives: Synthetic Mobil Crystalline Material 41 (MCM‑41) as a mesoporous material and functionalized MCM‑41 using aminopropyl groups were studied in order to investigate their ability to encapsulate and to control the release of diclofenac sodium and piroxicam. Materials and Methods: MCM‑41 was synthesized through sol–gel procedure and functionalized with aminopropyl groups. The physicochemical properties of MCM‑41 were studied through particle size analysis, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and carbon–hydrogen–nitrogen analysis. Diclofenac sodium and piroxicam were loaded into the MCM‑41 matrix using the filtration and solvent evaporation methods. The drug‑loading capacity was determined by ultraviolet, Fourier transform infrared, X‑ray diffraction, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. Results: According to the results for pure drug release, >57% was released in the 1st h, but when these drugs were loaded into pure Mobil Crystalline Material 41 (MCM‑41) and functionalized MCM‑41, the release into the simulated gastrointestinal medium was less, continuous, and slower. The release of piroxicam from functionalized MCM‑41 was slower than that from MCM‑41 in the simulated intestinal medium because of the formation of electrostatic bonds between piroxicam and the aminopropyl groups of the functionalized MCM‑41. However, in the case of diclofenac sodium, there was no significant difference between pure MCM‑41 and functionalized MCM‑41. The difference between piroxicam and diclofenac sodium was due to the high solubility of diclofenac sodium in the intestinal medium (pH 6.8), which caused more rapid release from the matrixes than for piroxicam. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that, after functionalization of MCM‑41, it could offer a good means of delivering controlled diclofenac sodium and piroxicam.