The loading and release property of nanoporous anodic alumina for delivery of drugs and drug carriers

Abstract

A two-step electrochemical anodisation approach was adopted in this work to create a series of highly ordered mesopores etched with different diameter (60 to 160 nm) and uniform nanotube length in anodised aluminium oxide (AAO). The loading and release characteristics of model drug (indomethacin) and drug carriers (micelles named Pluronic F127, TPGS, PEO-PPO-PEO) were presented to investigate the influence of micelle size, pore diameter and surface modification of AAO on release studies. Surface chemistry was varied via silanation process, using AFTES and PFPTES. It was discovered that quicker release of drugs was induced by larger pore size and smaller micelles. Moreover drug release was found to favour hydrophobic surface as the release was faster in PFPTES modified AAO than the one with APTES.