The sol-gel prepared SiO2-CaO-P2O5composites doped with Metronidazole for application in local delivery systems

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical properties, chemical structure and bioactivity of sol-gel processed oxide (SiO2-CaO-P2O5) composites used as controlled release materials for Metronidazole—drug applied in periodontal disease treatment. The obtained composite materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), the Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) technique and further monitoring in the ultraviolet and visible light regions (UV-Vis) of the in vitro release of the drug over time. Using tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) as a precursor of silica matrix and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (Ca(NO3)2 4H2O), triethyl phosphite (P(OC2H5)3) as precursors of CaO and P2O5 respectively, xerogels with different morphology and physical properties were obtained. The applied modifications improved also the bioactivity and changed the profile of the drug release. Based on the presented results of this study, it may be concluded that applied xerogel matrices could be promising candidates for the formulation in local delivery systems.