Abstract In this study, the effect of 3-aminopropyl surface functionalization of ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 on cefazolin adsorption and release profiles was investigated. The mineralization potential of functionalized SBA-15 in simulated body fluid was also investigated. The 3-aminopropyl-functionalized SBA-15 (SBA-NH2) were obtained by post-synthesis treatment of the parent SBA-15. The loading of cefazolin on SBA-NH2 was performed by using adsorption process from water solutions. The adsorption efficiency was characterized by applying the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models. The adsorption kinetics were investigated using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models as well as intraparticle diffusion model. It was found that the equilibrium data were best fitted by the Langmuir isotherm. Cefazolin adsorption followed the pseudo-second order kinetics. The cefazolin-loaded SBA-NH2 showed prolonged release profile for a period of 7 days. Cefazolin release was characterized by zero-order kinetics with reduced burst release. After 60 days of the mineralization studies the hydroxyapatite was formed on the cefazolin-loaded SBA-NH2 surface. This preliminary study supports the potential use of SBA-NH2 as a bifunctional drug carrier with prolonged cefazolin release and mineralization properties.