Controlled Release Study of Metformin Using Trithiocyanuric Acid Functionalized MCM‐41 as a Nanocarrier

Abstract

AbstractOrdered nanoporous silica such as MCM‐41 has silanol groups that can be chemically modified to effectively control the release of molecules. In this regard, MCM‐41 was functionalized with trithiocyanuric acid groups (TTCA‐MCM‐41) and offered as a novel carrier to the controlled release of metformin. TTCA‐MCM‐41 was synthesized and characterized. Thereafter, for 3 hours, saturated metformin solution was contacted with TTCA‐MCM‐41 to loading of drug. Finally, drug release profile was investigated in simulated body fluid (SBF) and phosphate buffers. The hexagonal symmetry of the TTCA‐MCM‐41 was confirmed by XRD patterns. The BET surface area, centred on N2 adsorption‐desorption, dropped from 846.5 m2/g for the MCM‐41 to 295.2 m2/g for the TTCA‐MCM‐41. With the use of FT‐IR spectra, the presence of TTCA groups in the silica system was established. The rope‐shaped morphology and the existence of S and N atoms on the MCM‐41 are visible in the SEM and EDX. The metformin release from TTCA‐MCM‐41 exhibits a pH‐based behaviour, and release rate was faster at higher pH compared to lower pH in phosphate buffers. In SBF, metformin displayed a steady release rate of around 0.2 mg min−1. The findings demonstrated that TTCA‐MCM‐41 is a promising candidate as a novel metformin carrier.