A novel vehicle for the delivery of aspirin (ASA) was prepared from porous nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) [nano-HAP/P(St-DVB)] composite microspheres by grafting nano-HAP [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] onto porous P(St-DVB) microspheres. Four types of porous composite microspheres were prepared, each with different nano-HAP contents. The ASA-loaded composite microspheres prepared with 10% and 15% nano-HAP (mass ratio) exhibited excellent buoyancy with relatively short instantaneous floating time (within 10 min) and a long sustained floating time (12 h) in simulated gastric juice. They also offered good sustained release of ASA (up to 8 h). Furthermore, these composite microspheres displayed good buffering capacity that prevented the buildup of acidity caused by hydrolysis of ASA, keeping the pH of gastric juice within the normal range (pH 0.9 to 1.5). The results showed that porous nano-HAP/P(St-DVB) composite microspheres prepared with 10% and 15% nano-HAP could be used as a novel drug carrier for ASA, providing a sustained release dose without leading to stomach irritation, a side effect that is often associated with ASA medication.
