Reimagining anti-inflammatory drugs delivery: the integration of ordered mesoporous silica and MOF materials for enhanced therapeutic outcomes

Abstract

Migraine, one of the neurological conditions, affects approximately 15% of the global population. It is characterized by intense headaches accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to light. The first line of drugs for treating migraine are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Unfortunately, these medications suffer from poor solubility in water, uncontrolled release, and numerous adverse side effects. In order to maximize their therapeutic effect by preventing premature release and degradation, novel drug delivery systems based on composites are being dynamically developed. Herein, the biocompatible ketoprofen, naproxen sodium, and diclofenac sodium vehicles integrating ordered mesoporous silica (SBA-16) with Fe-based metal–organic frameworks (MIL-101(Fe)) were synthesized via the solvothermal method. The composites were characterized by different percentages of MIL-101(Fe) 
(25 and 50 wt.%), which had a significant impact on their porosity, structure, and number of functional groups. The SBA-16@MIL-101(Fe)-25 and SBA-16@MIL-101(Fe)-50 samples exhibited BET surface areas of 768 and 324 m2/g, respectively. Their sorption capacities towards selected anti-inflammatory drugs were in the range of 141-318 mg/g for ketoprofen, 481-490 mg/g for naproxen sodium, and 246-589 mg/g for diclofenac sodium, notably exceeding the values obtained for pure mesoporous silica (5-9 mg/g). Morphological defects and specific functional groups, derived from SBA-16 and MIL-101(Fe), contributed to generating new adsorption sites in composites, enhancing host-guest interactions. The drug release profiles were determined by the carrier porosity, surface charge, and the presence of functional groups. The diffusion of ketoprofen and diclofenac sodium from the composites into the phosphate buffer (pH 7.7), mimicking rectal fluid, occurred in a more controlled manner compared to pristine silica. The SBA-16@MIL-101(Fe)-50 carrier released 82% of ketoprofen and 90% of diclofenac sodium over 24 hours.