Submicron particles with modified surface were synthesized by a simple one-pot synthesis approach and used as drug carrier for controlled release. Due to the alkalinity of MgO species on the surface, the amount of a model drug, ibuprofen, adsorbed on the modified surface was increased as compared to pure silica SBA-15 although the surface area was decreased by the surface modification. FTIR investigation indicated that the adsorption state of ibuprofen on MgO modified SBA-15 was different from that on pure silica SBA-15 and pure crystal ibuprofen. The result obtained from in vitro release test exhibited that the surface modification greatly decreased the ibuprofen release rate. In first 6 h in vitro release test, only 63% of the adsorbed ibuprofen was released from the MgO/SBA-15 (Si/Mg=20). In contrast, the release of ibuprofen was complete in 1 h from the pure silica SBA-15 under the same release conditions. The surface modified with MgO created affinity with acidic ibuprofen molecules and retarded the release rate from the mesoporous matrix. In addition, the release rate of ibuprofen could be modulated by varying the content of MgO, and was found to decrease with increasing amount of MgO on surface of SBA-15 submicron particles.