| Jun 29, 2012 |
Easy treatment of sore throat using porous nanosilica
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(Nanowerk News) Researchers used functionalized porous nanosilica to release clarithromycin drug which is used in the treatment of sore throat, inflammation of tonsils, acute bacterial sinusitis, intensification of chronic bronchitis in the skin structure and infections (see paper in Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology:
"Novel modified nanoporous silica for oral drug delivery: loading and release of clarithromycin").
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Clarithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic that shows antimicrobial activities. Using this medicine causes some problems due to its horrible taste, and due to dryness and swelling that it causes in the mouth. Another disadvantage of the drug is its low mid-life (approximately 3-4 hours), which results in the release of considerable amount of medicine in a short period of time.
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The research team selected porous silica among various materials used in controlled drug delivery systems. Among the reasons for the selection, mention can be made of the stability, high space and good biocompatibility of such porous nanomaterials.
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After carrying out numerous studies on the porous nanosilica, the researchers were attracted by SBA-15 structure due to its regular hexagonal structure. The presence of larger voids in this structure in comparison with other structures was another reason for choosing this structure in order to carry the big molecules of clarithromycin.
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They also carried out experiments on the porous nanosilica (SBA-15 structure), and on clarithromycin drug adsorbed in it. Results of the experiments showed that a better release took place when the inner surface of the voids was functionalized by tris (2-aminoethyl) amine (TREN) derivatives.
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