Fabrication of polymer-modified monodisperse mesoporous carbon particles by template-based approach for drug delivery

Abstract

We report the template-based fabrication and characterization of nearly monodisperse, biocompatible, polymer-coated mesoporous carbon microparticles for drug and actives delivery applications. Monodisperse mesoporous carbon microparticles are prepared by infiltration of chitosan (biopolymer) into the pores of mesoporous silica particles followed by pyrolysis. The monodispersity and mesoporosity are evidenced by electron microscopy and BET measurements, respectively. Raman spectroscopy shows the amorphous nature of the carbon particles which is desirable in biological applications. A model protein, BSA is loaded into the pores of carbon particles and a biocompatible layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of polystyrene sulfonate/polyallylamine hydrochloride (PSS/PAH) is used to surface modify the carbon particles for controlled release. The BSA from the polymer-coated mesoporous carbon particles could be released in the presence of salt (NaCl), whereas negligible release was observed in the phosphate buffer saline (neat PBS) solution without added NaCl. Thus, the synthesized carbon particles can potentially be used as a controlled drug delivery vehicle. Biocompatibility studies carried out in two different cell lines showed that the polymer-coated particles are highly biocompatible. In vitro cell uptake studies also demonstrate that the drug loaded polymer-coated carbon particles are efficiently internalized by the cells.