One-pot synthesis of magnetic and mesoporous bioactive glass composites and their sustained drug release property

A novel kind of magnetic and mesoporous bioactive glass (MMBG) composite with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles confined and dispersed in ordered mesoporous glass matrices has been prepared by a one-pot synthesis route of simultaneous evaporation-induced self-assembly of Ca, P, Si and Fe sources and subsequent reduction in an H₂ atmosphere. The MMBG composites exhibit the type IV isotherm curve with a well-defined step P/P₀ between 0.4 and 0.8. Ibuprofen storage and release experiments with these composites show adjustable loading amounts from 199 to 420 mg g^-1 and a sustained drug release property. A superparamagnetic behavior was identified and the saturation magnetization of the bioactive glass composites was found to increase at increased loading amounts of Fe species. The magnetic and mesoporous bioactive glass composites are believed to be potentially applicable for selectively targeted drug delivery and hyperthermia treatment of bone tumors.