Drug release system: Chlorambucil loaded in mesoporous cellular foam (MCF)

Abstract

Nanotransporters have received a great deal of research attention because of their promising opportunities in drug delivery [1-5]. Attempting to minimize the secondary adverse events of anticancer drugs and enhance the therapeutic rate, various nanotransporters have been devised, including dendrimers [6, 7], liposomes [8, 9], inorganic nanoparticles, and polymeric nanoparticles [10-13]. Chlorambucil (CLB), is a substance classified as a human carcinogen [14], it is used as a chemotherapy drug administered for treating some types of cancer. It is mainly used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia, low-grade nonHodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma and ovarian cancer. Chemically, it is 4-[4-bis(2-chloroethyl) amino phenyl butyric acid. MCFs (mesostructured siliceous cellular foams), that can be derived after the inclusion of a bulking medium in the synthesis procedure of SBA-15 [4], are composed of spherically uniform cells 15-50 nm diameter [15], exhibit high surface areas and porosities, and have adjustable pore size distributions [15, 16]. The open large pore system gives MCF unique advantages as catalyst support and separation media for processes involving large molecules. In addition to their specific physicochemical properties, they possess high biocompatibility and low adverse effects, which with their biodegradability, making them attractive for controlled drug release applications.