I am sure this sort of thing is well-known, but it hit me between the eyes this morning:
"New polymer-halloysite hybrid materials--potential controlled drug release system.
Ghebaur A, Garea SA, Iovu H.
Advanced Polymer Materials Group, University Politehnica of Bucharest,
149 Calea Victoriei, 010072 Bucharest, Romania.Abstract
New hybrid materials based on a natural host (halloysite), biodegradable polymer (poly(vinyl alcohol)) and diphenhydramine hydrochloride as drug were synthesized and tested as a potential controlled drug delivery system. The formation of these hybrid materials was proved using different characterization methods like Spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, XPS and UV-vis), thermogravimetrical analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The hybrid materials exhibit different features regarding the drug release. In vitro drug release tests showed that there are several factors which exhibit a strong influence on the drug release rate. Thus the initial drug concentration used at the hybrid materials synthesis, the presence of a polymer in the hybrid composition and the pH value of the release medium are the most important factors.
Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V. PMID: 22820481"