A simple pH-controlled drug release system was successfully prepared by coating pH-sensitive polymer hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP) on drug-loaded mesoporous SBA-15 tablet. Using famotidine (Famo) as a model drug, the effects of coating times and drying temperature on drug release were studied in detail to optimize the drug release system. In simulated gastric fluid (SGF, pH 1.2), it took only 2 h for Famo to be completely released from mesoporous silica tablet without HPMCP coating. Also in SGF, with the increase of coating times and drying temperature, the release of Famo was greatly delayed by HPMCP coating. For the tablet with twice coating of HPMCP and dried at 80 degrees C, only 4.0 wt.% of Famo could be released within 4 h. However, in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF, pH 7.4), HPMCP coating did not show obvious effect on the release of Famo. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.