Highly loaded metal oxide materials by self-assembly for extended biologically active molecule release in medical and dental applications

A biocompatible composite material for controlled release, comprising:

• a biocompatible metal oxide structure containing an unaligned network of interconnected pores, said pores being filled with a micellizing, amphiphilic, biologically active agent distributed substantially uniformly throughout said network of pores in said metal oxide structure in self-assembled form, said composite material characterized in that:
• the unaligned network of pores in said metal oxide structure is characterized by x-ray diffraction data wherein only one resolvable peak indicative of pore structure is present between about 1.1 and about 6 degrees (two theta);
• and
• the amphiphilic molecule of the biologically active agent serves a dual role of (i) providing a template for the formation of the metal oxide structure comprising the network of pores, and (ii) substantially loading the porous network as the biologically active agent of the composite material;
• and
• when exposed to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) the rate of controlled release of the amphiphilic biologically active agent is predominantly diffusion-driven over the rate of degradation of the metal oxide structure due to the unaligned network of interconnected pores so that the rate of release is a sustained rate of controlled release as compared to the release rate obtained from an ordered and aligned network of interconnected pores.