In Vitro Drug Release Study of Methacrylate Polymer Blend System: Effect of Polymer Blend Composition, Drug Loading and Solubilizing Surfactants on Drug Release
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2010
Department
Polymers and High Performance Materials
Abstract
The application of polymers as the drug delivery systems for treating oral infections is a relatively new area of research. The present study was to test the release of the antibacterial drug chlorhexidine diacetate (CHDA), the antifungal drug Nystatin (NYS) and the antiviral drug acyclovir (ACY) from polymer blends of poly(ethyl methacrylate) and poly(n-hexyl methacrylate) of different compositions. The effects of polymer blend composition, drug loading and solubilizing surfactants on the release of the drugs have been studied. Measurements of the in vitro rate of drug release showed a sustained release of drug over extended periods of time. Drug release rates decreased with increasing PEMA content in polymer blends. CHDA release rates increased steadily with increasing drug load. The drug release rates increased with the addition of surfactants. This study demonstrates that the three therapeutic agents show a sustained rate of drug release from polymer blends of PEMA and PHMA over extended periods of time. By varying polymer blend compositions as well as the drug concentration (loading), it is possible to control the drug release rates to a desired value. The drug release rate is enhanced by addition of surfactants that solubilize drugs in the polymer blends.
Publication Title
Journal of Materials Science-Materials in Medicine
Volume
21
Issue
2
First Page
583
Last Page
588
Recommended Citation
Li, J.,
Barrow, D.,
Howell, H.,
Kalachandra, S.
(2010). In Vitro Drug Release Study of Methacrylate Polymer Blend System: Effect of Polymer Blend Composition, Drug Loading and Solubilizing Surfactants on Drug Release. Journal of Materials Science-Materials in Medicine, 21(2), 583-588.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/776