Indium-Based Silica Materials: Sustainable Syntheses Combined with a Challenging Insertion in SiO2 Mesoporous Structures

Optimized sustainable procedures in both acidic and basic conditions are considered to meet some of the current environmental challenges of the scientific community. In this paper, the successful syntheses of two classes of indium-based silica nanomaterials are reported. Both procedures were conceived to enhance the sustainability of the synthesis methods and promote their preparations at room temperature while avoiding the hydrothermal treatment under static conditions at 100 °C. A fast, room-temperature synthesis of porous nanospheres was conceived together with an "acid-free" procedure for SBA-15-like materials. Moreover, the isomorphic substitution of silicon with indium was achieved. All the materials were deeply characterized to probe their structural, textural and morphological properties (e.g., transmission electron microscopy, N2 physisorption, ss MAS NMR of 29Si). The high specific surface area and the mesoporosity were always preserved even under the mild reaction conditions employed. The honeycomb structure and the spherical morphology of SBA-15-like materials and nanospheres, respectively, were also observed. The insertion of indium was confirmed via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations.

Brief History, Preparation Method, and Biological Application of Mesoporous Silica Molecular Sieves: A Narrative Review

It has been more than 30 years since the first ordered mesoporous silica molecular sieve (MCM-41) was reported, but the enthusiasm for exploiting mesoporous silica is still growing due to its superior properties, such as its controllable morphology, excellent hosting capability, easy functionalization, and good biocompatibility. In this narrative review, the brief history of the discovery of mesoporous silica and several important mesoporous silica families are summarized. The development of mesoporous silica microspheres with nanoscale dimensions, hollow mesoporous silica microspheres, and dendritic mesoporous silica nanospheres is also described. Meanwhile, common synthesis methods for traditional mesoporous silica, mesoporous silica microspheres, and hollow mesoporous silica microspheres are discussed. Then, we introduce the biological applications of mesoporous silica in fields such as drug delivery, bioimaging, and biosensing. We hope this review will help people to understand the history of the development of mesoporous silica molecular sieves and become familiar with their synthesis methods and applications in biology.

Current status of silica-based nanoparticles as therapeutics and its potential as therapies against viruses

In the past decade, interest in nanoparticles for clinical indications has been steadily gaining traction. Most recently, Lipid Nanoparticles (LNP) have been used successfully to construct the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines for rapid pandemic response. Similarly, silica is another nanomaterial which holds much potential to create nanomedicines against pathogens of interest. One major advantage of silica-based nanoparticles is its crystalline and highly ordered structure, which can be specifically tuned to achieve the desired properties needed for clinical applications. Increasingly, clinical research has shown the potential of silica nanoparticles not only as an antiviral, but also its ability as a delivery system for antiviral small molecules and vaccines against viruses. Silica has an excellent biosafety profile and has been tested in several early phase clinical trials since 2012, demonstrating good tolerability and minimal reported side effects. In this review, we discuss the clinical development of silica nanoparticles to date and identify the gaps and potential pitfalls in its path to clinical translation.

Mesoporous Silica-Based Nanoplatforms Are Theranostic Agents for the Treatment of Inflammatory Disorders

Complete recovery from infection, sepsis, injury, or trauma requires a vigorous response called inflammation. Inflammatory responses are essential in balancing tissue homeostasis to protect the tissue or resolve harmful stimuli and initiate the healing process. Identifying pathologically important inflammatory stimuli is important for a better understanding of the immune pathways, mechanisms of inflammatory diseases and organ dysfunctions, and inflammatory biomarkers and for developing therapeutic targets for inflammatory diseases. Nanoparticles are an efficient medical tool for diagnosing, preventing, and treating various diseases due to their interactions with biological molecules. Nanoparticles are unique in diagnosis and therapy in that they do not affect the surroundings or show toxicity. Modern medicine has undergone further development with nanoscale materials providing advanced experimentation, clinical use, and applications. Nanoparticle use in imaging, drug delivery, and treatment is growing rapidly owing to their spectacular accuracy, bioavailability, and cellular permeability. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) play a significant role in nano therapy with several advantages such as easy synthesis, loading, controllability, bioavailability over various surfaces, functionalization, and biocompatibility. MSNs can be used as theranostics in immune-modulatory nano systems to diagnose and treat inflammatory diseases. The application of MSNs in the preparation of drug-delivery systems has been steadily increasing in recent decades. Several preclinical studies suggest that an MSN-mediated drug-delivery system could aid in treating inflammatory diseases. This review explains the role of nanoparticles in medicine, synthesis, and functional properties of mesoporous silica nanoparticles and their therapeutic role against various inflammatory diseases.

Absolute Quantification of Residual Solvent in Mesoporous Silica Drug Formulations Using Magic-Angle Spinning NMR Spectroscopy

Porous silica is used as a drug delivery agent to improve the bioavailability of sparsely soluble compounds. In this approach, the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is commonly loaded into the porous silica by incipient wetness impregnation using organic solvents. Subsequent solvent elimination is critical as the residual solvent concentration cannot exceed threshold values set by health and safety regulations (e.g., EMA/CHMP/ICH/82260/2006). For dichloromethane and methanol, for example, residual concentrations must be below 600 and 3000 ppm, respectively. Today, EU and USA Pharmacopoeias recommend tedious procedures for residual solvent quantification, requiring extraction of the solvent and subsequent quantification using capillary gas chromatography with static headspace sampling (sHS-GC). This work presents a new method based on the combination of standard addition and absolute quantification using magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MAS qNMR). The methodology was originally developed for absolute quantification of water in zeolites and has now been validated for quantification of residual solvent in drug formations using mesoporous silica loaded with ibuprofen dissolved in DCM and MeOH as test samples. Interestingly, formulations prepared using as-received or predried mesoporous silica contained 5465 versus 484.9 ppm DCM, respectively. This implies that the initial water content of the silica carrier can impact the residual solvent concentration in drug-loaded materials. This observation could provide new options to minimize the occurrence of these undesired solvents in the final formulation.

Hierarchically porous and mechanically stable monoliths from ordered mesoporous silica and their water filtration potential

Mechanically stable structures with interconnected hierarchical porosity combine the benefits of both small and large pores, such as high surface area, pore volume, and good mass transport capabilities. Hence, lightweight micro-/meso-/macroporous monoliths are prepared from ordered mesoporous silica COK-12 by means of spark plasma sintering (SPS, S-sintering) and compared to conventionally (C-) sintered monoliths. A multi-scale model is developed to fit the small angle X-ray scattering data and obtain information on the hexagonal lattice parameters, pore sizes from the macro to the micro range, as well as the dimensions of the silica population. For both sintering techniques, the overall mesoporosity, hexagonal pore ordering, and amorphous character are preserved. The monoliths' porosity (77-49%), mesopore size (6.2-5.2 nm), pore volume (0.50-0.22 g cm^-3), and specific surface area (451-180 m² g^-1) decrease with increasing processing temperature and pressure. While the difference in porosity is enhanced, the structural parameters between the C-and S-sintered monoliths are largely converging at 900 °C, except for the mesopore size and lattice parameter, whose dimensions are more extensively preserved in the S-sintered monoliths, however, coming along with larger deviations from the theoretical lattice. Their higher mechanical properties (biaxial strength up to 49 MPa, 724 MPa HV 9.807 N) at comparable porosities and ability to withstand ultrasonic treatment and dead-end filtration up to 7 bar allow S-sintered monoliths to reach a high permeance (2634 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1), permeability (1.25 × 10^-14 m²), and ability to reduce the chemical oxygen demand by 90% during filtration of a surfactant-stabilized oil in water emulsion, while indicating reasonable resistance towards fouling.

Mesoporous silica nanocarriers as drug delivery systems for anti-tubercular agents: a review

The treatment and management of tuberculosis using conventional drug delivery systems remain challenging due to the setbacks involved. The lengthy and costly treatment regime and patients' non-compliance have led to drug-resistant tuberculosis, which is more difficult to treat. Also, anti-tubercular drugs currently used are poor water-soluble drugs with low bioavailability and poor therapeutic efficiency except at higher doses which causes drug-related toxicity. Novel drug delivery carrier systems such as mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been identified as nanomedicines capable of addressing the challenges mentioned due to their biocompatibility. The review discusses the sol-gel synthesis and chemistry of MSNs as porous drug nanocarriers, surface functionalization techniques and the influence of their physico-chemical properties on drug solubility, loading and release kinetics. It outlines the physico-chemical characteristics of MSNs encapsulated with anti-tubercular drugs.

A Comparison of Environmental Impact of Various Silicas Using a Green Chemistry Evaluator

To answer questions surrounding the sustainability of silica production, MilliporeSigma's DOZN 2.0 Green Chemistry Evaluator was employed as it provides quantitative values based on the 12 principles of Green Chemistry. As a first study using DOZN 2.0 to evaluate the greenness of nanomaterials, a range of silica types were considered and their greenness scores compared. These included low- and high-value silicas, both commercial and emerging, such as precipitated, gel, fumed, colloidal, mesoporous, and bioinspired silicas. When surveying these different types of silicas, it became clear that while low value silicas have excellent greenness scores, high-value silicas perform poorly on this scale. This highlighted the tension between high-value silicas that are desired for emerging markets and the sustainability of their synthesis. The calculations were able to quantify the issues pertaining to the energy-intensive reactions and subsequent removal of soft templates for the sol-gel processes. The importance of avoiding problematic solvents during processes and particularly releasing them as waste was identified. The calculations were also able to compare the amount of waste generated as well as their hazardous nature. The effects of synthesis conditions on greenness scores were also investigated in order to better understand the relationship between the production process and their sustainability.

Hierarchical COK-X Materials for Applications in Catalysis and Adsorptive Separation and Controlled Release

Over the years, COK has developed a family of silicate materials and metal–organic framework hybrids with hierarchical porosity and functionality, coined zeogrids, zeotiles, and COK-x (stemming from the Flemish name of the laboratory “Centrum voor Oppervlaktechemie en Katalyse”). Several of these materials have unique features relevant to heterogeneous catalysis, molecular separation, and controlled release and found applications in the field of green chemistry, environmental protection, and pharmaceutical formulation. Discovery of a new material typically occurs by serendipity, but the research was always guided by hypothesis. This review provides insight in the process of tuning initial research hypotheses to match material properties to specific applications. This review describes the synthesis, structure, properties, and applications of 12 different materials. Some have simple synthesis protocols, facilitating upscaling and reproduction and rendering them attractive also in this respect.

Highlights in Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles as a Multifunctional Controlled Drug Delivery Nanoplatform for Infectious Diseases Treatment

Infectious diseases are a major global concern being responsible for high morbidity and mortality mainly due to the development and enhancement of multidrug-resistant microorganisms exposing the fragility of medicines and vaccines commonly used to these treatments. Taking into account the scarcity of effective formulation to treat infectious diseases, nanotechnology offers a vast possibility of ground-breaking platforms to design new treatment through smart nanostructures for drug delivery purposes. Among the available nanosystems, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) stand out due their multifunctionality, biocompatibility and tunable properties make them emerging and actual nanocarriers for specific and controlled drug release. Considering the high demand for diseases prevention and treatment, this review exploits the MSNs fabrication and their behavior in biological media besides highlighting the most of strategies to explore the wide MSNs functionality as engineered, smart and effective controlled drug release nanovehicles for infectious diseases treatment. Graphical Abstract Schematic representation of multifunctional MSNs-based nanoplatforms for infectious diseases treatment.

Recent Nanocarrier Approaches for Targeted Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is one of the most serious health concerns in the 21st century whose prevalence is beyond boundaries and can affect any organ of the human body. The conventional chemotherapeutic treatment strategies lack specificity to tumors and are associated with toxic effects on the immune system and other organ systems. In the past decades, there has been continuous progress in the development of smart nanocarrier systems for target-specific delivery of drugs against a variety of tumors, including intracellular gene-specific targeting. These nanocarriers are able to recognize the tumor cells and deliver the therapeutic agent in fixed proportions, causing no or very less harm to healthy cells. Nanosystems have modified physicochemical properties, improved bioavailability, and long retention in blood, which enhances their potency. A huge number of nanocarrier based formulations have been developed and are in clinical trials. Nanocarrier systems include polymeric micelles, liposomes, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles, etc. Recent advancements in nanocarrier systems include mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), metal organic frameworks, and quantum dots. In the present review, various nanocarrier based drug delivery systems, along with their applications in the management of cancer, have been described with special emphasis on MSNs.

Turning weak emitters into outstanding luminescent materials using rigid host media

The incorporation into rigid silica host structures leads successfully to a significant luminescence enhancement of two zinc(ii) dipyrrins, known to be weak emitters in solution. One of these complexes shows a fluorescence efficiency of 55% and prolonged photo-stability once entrapped in silica, demonstrating high potential for applications in energy conversion.

Through incorporation into host–guest silica structures, typically poorly emissive zinc(ii) dipyrrins exhibit up to 100-fold fluorescence enhancement and prolonged photostability.

Functionalized Silicas for Metal-Free and Metal-Based Catalytic Applications: A Review in Perspective of Green Chemistry

Heterogeneous catalysis plays a key role in promoting green chemistry through many routes. The functionalizable reactive silanols highlight silica as a beguiling support for the preparation of heterogeneous catalysts. Metal active sites anchored on functionalized silica (FS) usually demonstrate the better dispersion and stability due to their firm chemical interaction with FSs. Having certain functional groups in structure, FSs can act as the useful catalysts for few organic reactions even without the need of metal active sites which are termed as the covetous reusable organocatalysts. Magnetic FSs have laid the platform where the effortless recovery of catalysts is realized just using an external magnet, resulting in the simplified reaction procedure. Using FSs of multiple functional groups, we can envisage the shortened reaction pathway and, reduced chemical uses and chemical wastes. Unstable bio-molecules like enzymes have been stabilized when they get chemically anchored on FSs. The resultant solid bio-catalysts exhibited very good reusability in many catalytic reactions. Getting provoked from the green chemistry aspects and benefits of FS-based catalysts, we confer the recent literature and progress focusing on the significance of FSs in heterogeneous catalysis. This review covers the preparative methods, types and catalytic applications of FSs. A special emphasis is given to the metal-free FS catalysts, multiple FS-based catalysts and magnetic FSs. Through this review, we presume that the contribution of FSs to green chemistry can be well understood. The future perspective of FSs and the improvements still required for implementing FS-based catalysts in practical applications have been narrated at the end of this review.

pH-mediated control over the mesostructure of ordered mesoporous materials templated by polyion complex micelles

Ordered mesoporous silica materials were prepared under different pH conditions by using a silicon alkoxide as a silica source and polyion complex (PIC) micelles as the structure-directing agents. PIC micelles were formed by complexation between a weak polyacid-containing double-hydrophilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(acrylic acid) (PEO-b-PAA), and a weak polybase, oligochitosan-type polyamine. As both the micellization process and the rate of silica condensation are highly dependent on pH, the properties of silica mesostructures can be modulated by changing the pH of the reaction medium. Varying the materials synthesis pH from 4.5 to 7.9 led to 2D-hexagonal, wormlike or lamellar mesostructures, with a varying degree of order. The chemical composition of the as-synthesized hybrid organic/inorganic materials was also found to vary with pH. The structure variations were discussed based on the extent of electrostatic complexing bonds between acrylate and amino functions and on the silica condensation rate as a function of pH.

Grafting and stabilization of ordered mesoporous silica COK-12 with graphene oxide for enhanced removal of methylene blue

Grafting of environmentally friendly produced ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) COK-12 with graphene oxide yields a superior OMS/GO adsorbent for methylene blue.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: A Comprehensive Review on Synthesis and Recent Advances

Recent advancements in drug delivery technologies utilizing a variety of carriers have resulted in a path-breaking revolution in the approach towards diagnosis and therapy alike in the current times. Need for materials with high thermal, chemical and mechanical properties have led to the development of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). These ordered porous materials have garnered immense attention as drug carriers owing to their distinctive features over the others. They can be synthesized using a relatively simple process, thus making it cost effective. Moreover, by controlling the parameters during the synthesis; the morphology, pore size and volume and particle size can be transformed accordingly. Over the last few years, a rapid increase in research on MSNs as drug carriers for the treatment of various diseases has been observed indicating its potential benefits in drug delivery. Their widespread application for the loading of small molecules as well as macromolecules such as proteins, siRNA and so forth, has made it a versatile carrier. In the recent times, researchers have sorted to several modifications in the framework of MSNs to explore its potential in drug resistant chemotherapy, antimicrobial therapy. In this review, we have discussed the synthesis of these multitalented nanoparticles and the factors influencing the size and morphology of this wonder carrier. The second part of this review emphasizes on the applications and the advances made in the MSNs to broaden the spectrum of its use especially in the field of biomedicine. We have also touched upon the lacunae in the thorough understanding of its interaction with a biological system which poses a major hurdle in the passage of this carrier to the clinical level. In the final part of this review, we have discussed some of the major patents filed in the field of MSNs for therapeutic purpose.

Mesoporous silica supported cobalt catalysts for gas phase hydrogenation of nitrobenzene: role of pore structure on stable catalytic performance

Mesoporous silica supported Co catalysts (Co/COK-12 and Co/SBA-16) are active for hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline. The support pore architecture is decisive in maintaining stable catalytic performance.

Evaluation of Three Amorphous Drug Delivery Technologies to Improve the Oral Absorption of Flubendazole

This study investigates 3 amorphous technologies to improve the dissolution rate and oral bioavailability of flubendazole (FLU). The selected approaches are (1) a standard spray-dried dispersion with hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) E5 or polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate 64, both with Vitamin E d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate; (2) a modified process spray-dried dispersion (MPSDD) with either HPMC E3 or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS-M); and (3) confining FLU in ordered mesoporous silica (OMS). The physicochemical stability and in vitro release of optimized formulations were evaluated following 2 weeks of open conditions at 25°C/60% relative humidity (RH) and 40°C/75% RH. All formulations remained amorphous at 25°C/60% RH. Only the MPSDD formulation containing HPMCAS-M and 3/7 (wt./wt.) FLU/OMS did not crystallize following 40°C/75% RH exposure. The OMS and MPSDD formulations contained the lowest and highest amount of hydrolyzed degradant, respectively. All formulations were dosed to rats at 20 mg/kg in suspension. One FLU/OMS formulation was also dosed as a capsule blend. Plasma concentration profiles were determined following a single dose. In vivo findings show that the OMS capsule and suspension resulted in the overall highest area under the curve and C_max values, respectively. These results cross-evaluate various amorphous formulations and provide a link to enhanced biopharmaceutical performance.

Anatase TiO2 nanoparticle coating on porous COK-12 platelets as highly active and reusable photocatalysts

Coating of anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles on ordered mesoporous silica COK-12 platelets for effective photodegradation of various organic pollutants under UV light irradiation.

Self-Assembly of Pluronic F127-Silica Spherical Core-Shell Nanoparticles in Cubic Close-Packed Structures

A new ordered mesoporous silica material (COK-19) with cubic symmetry is synthesized by silicate polycondensation in a citric acid/citrate buffered micellar solution of Pluronic F127 triblock copolymer near neutral pH. SAXS, nitrogen adsorption, TEM, and electron tomography reveal the final material has a cubic close packed symmetry (Fm3̅m) with isolated spherical mesopores interconnected through micropores. Heating of the synthesis medium from room temperature to 70 °C results in a mesopore size increase from 7.0 to 11.2 nm. Stepwise addition of the silicate source allows isolation of a sequence of intermediates that upon characterization with small-angle X-ray scattering uncovers the formation process via formation and aggregation of individual silica-covered Pluronic micelles.

Silica capsules enclosing P123 triblock copolymer micelles for flurbiprofen storage and release

Flurbiprofen was incorporated in 200-400 nm silica capsules filled with Pluronic P123 polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide triblock copolymer. The assembly process of the capsules and the molecular organization of drug molecule, surfactant and silica were investigated using SAXS, TGA, SEM, DLS, DSC, ¹³C single-pulse, CPMAS and ¹H-¹H two-dimensional NMR. Flurbiprofen molecules are molecularly dispersed inside polypropylene cores of P123 surfactant micelles occluded in a 20-30 nm thick silica shell. Flurbiprofen molecules in polypropylene cores of P123 micelles exhibit high mobility and are easily released after introduction in simulated gastrointestinal fluid and the solubility limit is reached within minutes. Release rates are favored at high pH due to acid dissociation of the carboxylic acid group of the flurbiprofen molecule. The molecular environment of flurbiprofen in these P123 filled silica capsules is different from ordered mesoporous silica materials synthesized using P123 as sacrificial template having the drug molecules adsorbed on the silica surface of pore walls. These findings uncover a new concept of storage and release of hydrophobic bioactive molecules.

Ternary Ag/MgO-SiO2 catalysts for the conversion of ethanol into butadiene

Ternary Ag/Magnesia-silica catalysts were tested in the direct synthesis of 1,3-butadiene from ethanol. The influence of the silver content and the type of silica source on catalytic performance has been studied. Prepared catalysts were characterized by (29) Si NMR, N2 sorption, small-angle X-ray scattering measurements, XRD, environmental scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (ESEM/EDX), FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine and CO2 , temperature-programmed desorption of CO2 and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Based on these characterization results, the catalytic performance of the catalysts in the 1,3-butadiene formation process was interpreted and a tentative model explaining the role of the different catalytically active sites was elaborated. The balance of the active sites is crucial to obtain an active and selective catalyst to form 1,3-butadiene from ethanol. The optimal silver loading is 1-2 wt% on a MgO-silica support with a molar Mg/Si ratio of 2. The silver species and basic sites (Mg−O pairs and basic OH groups) are of prime importance in the 1,3-butadiene production, catalyzing mainly the ethanol dehydrogenation and the aldol condensation, respectively.

Ni nanoparticles supported on mesoporous silica (2D, 3D) architectures: highly efficient catalysts for the hydrocyclization of biomass-derived levulinic acid

Ni nanoparticles supported on various mesoporous silicas with 2D (COK-12) and 3D architectures (KIT-6 and SBA-16) exhibited superior catalytic performance in the vapor-phase hydrocyclization of biomass-derived levulinic acid at atmospheric pressure.

Fabrication of highly ordered mesoporous silica with the assistance of phosphate

Highly ordered mesoporous silica was prepared with the assistance of phosphate at a pH of 6.15 using sodium silicate as a silicon source.

Recent developments in liquid-phase selective oxidation using environmentally benign oxidants and mesoporous metal silicates

This Perspective article surveys recent advances in the synthesis of mesoporous transition-metal-containing silicate materials and their use for the liquid-phase selective oxidation of organic compounds with environmentally friendly oxidants – molecular oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and organic hydroperoxides.

Single-step alcohol-free synthesis of core–shell nanoparticles of β-casein micelles and silica

β-Casein is wrapped in a thin shell of SiO₂ under biocompatible conditions forming hybrid core–shell nanoparticles.

Potential of ordered mesoporous silica for oral delivery of poorly soluble drugs

The use of ordered mesoporous silica is one of the more recent and rapidly developing formulation techniques for enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs. Their large surface area and pore volume make ordered mesoporous silica materials excellent candidates for efficient drug loading and rapid release. While this new approach offers many promising advantages, further research is still necessary to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and to improve our scientific insight into the behavior of this system. In this review, the significant developments to date are presented and research challenges highlighted. Aspects of downstream processability are discussed in view of their special bulk powder properties and unique pore architecture. Lastly, perspectives for successful oral dosage form development are presented.

Use of ordered mesoporous silica to enhance the oral bioavailability of ezetimibe in dogs

The aim of this study was to investigate the bioavailability enhancement of the biopharmaceutics classification system class II compound ezetimibe loaded in ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) in dogs. The OMS was characterized as highly ordered mesoporous material with a narrow pore size distribution. Ezetimibe was loaded in OMS via incipient wetness impregnation to obtain a 20% (w/w) drug load, characterized by nitrogen adsorption and differential scanning calorimetry, and formulated in one capsule and two tablet formulations. Physicochemical characterization of loaded OMS indicated that ezetimibe molecules were molecularly deposited on the hydrophilic surface of the OMS. Two in vitro dissolution experiments were performed at 37°C in simulated gastric fluid with 0.1% sodium lauryl sulfate or Tween 80 to determine the drug release. All concepts were compared in vitro and in vivo with the commercially available tablet Ezetrol®. A dog study was designed to determine the oral bioavailability of ezetimibe capsules and tablets. The tablet preparations showed similar results to that of Ezetrol®. The capsule formulation demonstrated a faster absorption into the blood circulation, including a superior metabolization of ezetimibe into the active glucuronide conjugate. In vivo evaluation in dogs confirmed the improvement of ezetimibe absorption with the use of OMS as drug delivery technology.