# US 7,611,731 B2 · Mesostructured silica/block copolymer monoliths as a controlled release device and methods of manufacture

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- Number: US 7,611,731 B2
- Document ID: US7611731B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/203,495
- Filed: 2005-08-12
- Published: 2006-02-16
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2004-08-16
- Assignees: SBA Materials, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael D. Wyrsta; Mark L. F. Phillips
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611731B2

## CPC

- A61K 9/2009: {Inorganic compounds}
- A61K 9/2031: {obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, poloxamers}
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)

## Abstract

The invention comprises the design, synthesis, and characterization of mesostructured silica/block copolymer composite monoliths as controlled release systems. The controlled release function is based on the formation of mesostructured silica/block copolymer architectures via surfactant-templated sol-gel processing. Multi-layered or gradient monoliths are produced by layer-by-layer sol-gel processing to provide pulsed and programmed release characteristics. A simple, rapid route to prepare combinatorial compositional monolith libraries provides high-throughput synthesis and rapid screening of the release characteristics of the monoliths.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for forming a controlled release inorganic metal oxide material comprising the steps of:
providing at least one release agent;
providing a liquid source of an inorganic metal oxide;
providing an amphiphilic block copolymer;
providing a quantity of water;
providing a catalyst;
providing a co-solvent;
preparing a solution comprising the liquid source of the inorganic metal oxide, the amphiphilic block copolymer, the water, the catalyst, and the co-solvent,
dissolving the provided release agent into the prepared solution;
heating the resulting solution at a controlled temperature;
drying the resulting solution into a predetermined form;
the resulting form having a release rate determined by the pore size of the inorganic metal oxide and the molecular weight of the amphiphilic block copolymer, wherein the inorganic metal oxide is silicia.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the silica comprises tetraethyl orthosilicate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the silica comprises tetraethyl orthosilicate and an alkyl substituted silicate ester.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3 wherein the alkyl substituted silicate ester comprises methyltriethoxysilane.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the defined pore size of the inorganic metal oxide is about 1 nm in diameter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the defined pore size of the inorganic metal oxide is between about 1 nm and about 30 nm in diameter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1 wherein the defined pore size of the inorganic metal oxide is about 30 nm in diameter.