title: Synthetic geopolymers for controlled delivery of oxycodone: adjustable and nanostructured porosity enables tunable and sustained drug release.
abstract: In this article we for the first time present a fully synthetic mesoporous geopolymer drug carrier for controlled release of opioids. Nanoparticulate precursor powders with different Al/Si-ratios were synthesized by a sol-gel route and used in the preparation of different geopolymers, which could be structurally tailored by adjusting the Al/Si-ratio and the curing temperatures. In particular, it was shown that the pore sizes of the geopolymers decreased with increasing Al/Si ratio and that completely mesoporous geopolymers could be produced from precursor particles with the Al/Si ratio 2:1. The mesoporosity was shown to be associated with a sustained and linear in vitro release profile of the opioid oxycodone. A clinically relevant release period of about 12 h was obtained by adjusting the size of the pellets. The easily fabricated and tunable geopolymers presented in this study constitute a novel approach in the development of controlled release formulations, not only for opioids, but whenever the clinical indication is best treated with a constant supply of drugs and when the mechanical stability of the delivery vehicle is crucial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forsgren
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strømme
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engqvist
mesh_terms: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013696:Temperature; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011108:Polymers; D010098:Oxycodone; D009584:Nitrogen