Modification of external surface of laponite by silane grafting

The intercalation of poorly water-soluble and bulky itraconazole into surface-modified laponite is demonstrated by conventional ion exchange method to evaluate the effects of external surface modification on intercalation reaction. Grafting of octylsilane groups did not significantly affect on the XRD pattern of laponite. However, octylsilane-treated laponite rapidly intercalates intraconozole without any prehydration process. Successful grafting of octylsilane groups mostly on the external surface was further confirmed by TGA curves and IR spectra. The amount of intercalated itraconozole was not affected by octylsilane grafting. Therefore, it is clear that surface modification of laponite with hydrophobic groups greatly enhances the intercalation of bulky hydrophobic molecules into laponite.