title: Silica microcapsules from diatoms as new carrier for delivery of therapeutics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explores the use of natural silica-based porous material from diatoms, known as diatomaceous earth, as a drug carrier of therapeutics for implant- and oral-delivery applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  To prove this concept, two drugs models were used and investigated: a hydrophobic (indomethacin) and hydrophilic (gentamicin).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results show the effectiveness of diatom microcapsules for drug-delivery application, showing 14-22 wt% drug loading capacity and sustained drug release over 2 weeks. Two steps in the drug release from diatom structures were observed: the first, rapid release (over 6 h is attributed to the surface deposited drug) and the second, slow and sustained release over 2 weeks with zero order kinetics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm that natural material based on diatom silica can be successfully applied as a drug carrier for both oral and implant drug-delivery applications, offering considerable potential to replace existing synthetic nanomaterials.
authors.affiliation: University of South Australia, Ian Wark Research Institute, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide, 5095 SA, Australia.
authors.forename: Moom Sinn
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Aw
authors.forename: Spomenka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simovic
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Addai-Mensah
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Losic
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002214:Capsules; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016062:Porosity; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002214:Capsules; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005839:Gentamicins; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D007213:Indomethacin