Caffeine loading into micro- and nanoparticles of mesoporous silicate materials: in vitro release kinetics

Caffeine was loaded into microparticles and nanoparticles of MCM-41 and MCM-48 to study its release into simulated body fluid at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. The silicate systems were characterized by X-Rar Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. Loading of caffeine was confirmed by thermal gravimetric analysis and FTIR and the loading capacity was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The loading capacities for the microparticles are higher than that for the nanoparticles for both silicate systems, with the highest (56.8%) for the microparticles of MCM-48. However, for each system, the release from nanoparticle is faster than from microparticles. For all systems, diffusion is the major dissolution mechanism. [GRAPHICS]