Sol–Gel Synthesis, Thermal Characterization, Surface Interactions, and Release Kinetics of Silica/Drug Hybrid System

Controlled and local drug delivery systems of anti-inflammatory agents are attracting increasing attention thanks to their possible pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. These systems have extended therapeutic effects and reduced side effects. The aim of this work is to synthesize a system composed of SiO2 glass and ketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory drug, by the sol-gel process. Two different percentages (5 and 15 wt%) of drug are entrapped in the silica matrix via the sol-gel method and the dried material are analyzed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and simultaneous Differential Scanning Calorimetery/Thermogravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA). The drug release kinetics of the amorphous bioactive materials are investigated. Molecular Mechanics and Molecular Dynamics simulations are currently in progress to investigate possible interactions between the silica-based surface and the ketoprofen molecules both at low and high concentration for comparison with experimental data.