Abstract

The sol-gel method was employed to synthesize three-dimensional mesoporous Fe-KIT-6 and KIT-6. These materials were investigated for their potential in controlled drug delivery applications, with ibuprofen used as a model drug. Both Fe-KIT-6 and KIT-6 exhibit large pore volumes, narrow pore size distributions, and high surface areas, making them promising candidates for drug adsorption. The introduction of iron into the KIT-6 structure significantly enhanced its drug sorption capacity, with the materials showing an increased ability to adsorb ibuprofen as the iron content increased. Moreover, the release of ibuprofen was more efficient from iron-modified KIT-6, with materials containing iron exhibiting slower and more controlled drug release profiles. These results suggest that Fe-KIT-6 has potential for use in sustained-release drug delivery systems.