Cysteine and N-acetyl cysteine encapsulated mesoporous silica: synthesis, characterization and influence of parameters on in-vitro controlled release

Pro-drug, cysteine loaded mesoporous silica materials with hexagonal (MCM-41) and cubic (MCM-48) geometry were synthesized by incipient wetness and soaking technique. The structure and properties of these synthesized materials were investigated by various physico-chemical techniques such as FT-IR, Nitrogen adsorption-desorption, XRD and TEM. An in-vitro release study of cysteine from these synthesized materials in SBF was carried out under stirring as well as static conditions. Effect of synthesis method as well as effect of geometry of carrier on release profile of drugs was also examined. Based on the obtained results for pro-drug, controlled release of real drug, N-acetyl cysteine was also carried out under optimized conditions. Release results shows that N-acetyl cysteine release was found to be more controlled as compare to that of cysteine from both mesoporous carriers. A study on release mechanism and release kinetics was also carried out using Higuchi model and first order release kinetic model.