ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a variety of silica nanoparticles. The bioavailability of drug molecules is a crucial component to the success of any treatment and is dependent on the overall capacity of the free drug to make it intact to the target site. Drug release is governed by the ability of the medium to access the surface area and wet the silica surface, after which physisorbed drug molecules can simply diffuse into solution. Nonporous silica continues to be investigated as a drug delivery vehicle due to its hydrophilic surface, biocompatibility, silane surface chemistry, and ease and low cost of large-scale synthesis. Acidic media was also shown to accelerate drug release from the nanoparticles due to hastened degradation of the silica. Drug containing silanes were synthesized and then co-condensed into nonporous silica nanoparticles through the Stober process, which should prevent drug leaching.
