Treatment Approaches For Enhancing Drug Delivery Using Mongolian Natural Zeolites

Abstract

Mongolia has substantial amounts of natural zeolite minerals, which hold considerable promise for environmental and biological uses, particularly located in the southeastern region of the country. To utilize Mongolian natural zeolite (MNZ) resources, this study focused on pretreating natural zeolite through acid activation, calcination, sodium exchange, and cationic surfactant modification to enhance its suitability for drug delivery. Each treatment step was successfully carried out, resulting in notable improvements in the physicochemical properties of Mongolian natural zeolite. Acid activation increased the surface area and removed impurities, while also contributing to a 46% increase in the Si/Al ratio. Calcination enhanced the structural stability of the framework, and sodium exchange further improved the ion-exchange capacity and biocompatibility of the zeolite. Finally, modification with the cationic surfactant played a significant role in increasing hydrophobicity and drug loading efficiency, as confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and thermal analyses. Based on this adsorbent, the ceftriaxone delivery system showed effective and steadily increasing antibiotic release over time. These findings highlight the potential of pretreated Mongolian natural zeolite as a safe, efficient, and biocompatible carrier, serving as an effective adsorbent for drug delivery.