Nanostructure-loaded mesoporous silica for controlled release of coumarin derivatives: A novel testing of the hyperthermia effect

The synthesis of three types of mesoporous materials is reported: pure mesoporous silica (MCM-41), a nanocomposite of mesoporous silica with hydroxyapatite (MCM-41-HA) and mesoporous silica/gold nanorods nanocomposite (MCM-41-GNRs). The mesoporous materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption isotherms, FTIR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The samples were loaded with coumarin thiourea derivatives (I-IV) having functional groups of varying sizes and the in vitro release assays were monitored, and the release behavior was investigated as a function of soaking time in simulated body fluid. Two release stages were obtained in MCM-41, MCM-41-HA and MCM-41-GNRs loaded samples with the early release stages accounting for about 30% of loaded derivatives. These early release stages are characterized by Higuchi rate constant values nearly twice the values associated with the second release stages. The influence of substituent size on the release rate constants was explained in terms of sorption sites and hydrogen bonding with silanol groups on silicates. The release of coumarin derivatives loaded on MCM-41, MCM-41-HA and MCM-41-GNRs occurs over remarkably long time of the order of about 260 h with faster release rates in loaded MCM-41 and MCM-41-GNRs samples compared with MCM-41-HA ones. The role of hyperthermia effect in enhancing release rates was investigated by subjecting loaded MCM-41-GNRs to near infrared (NIR) radiation at 800 nm. This would be of significance in targeted drug release using hyperthermia effect. Unlike hydroxyl apatite, loading MCM-41 with gold nanorods does not affect the release kinetics. Only when these samples are irradiated with NIR photons, does the release occur with enhanced rates. This property could be valuable in selected targeting of drugs.