Systematic Study of Preparing Porous CaCO3 Vaterite Particles for Controlled Drug Release

Porous CaCO3 vaterite particles have been widely used as drug carriers for biomedical applications due to their high biocompatibility and low production costs. However, controlling the particle size and porosity of CaCO3 nanoparticles with the desired crystalline phase is still challenging. In this study, we have systematically investigated the preparation of CaCO3 nanoparticles under various conditions including precursor types/ratios/concentrations, additive concentrations (ethylene glycol), and temperatures. The materials were fully characterized by optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, dynamic laser scattering, thermogravimetric analysis, and gas sorption. The impacts of the reaction parameters were rationalized and the mechanism for the formation of porous vaterite particles was suggested. It was possible to produce porous vaterite nanoparticles (200 nm) under the optimized conditions, which were further used as drug carrier to upload a model drug curcumin. The potential of using these vaterite particles for controlled drug release was demonstrated.