title: Ionic complexes of biosynthetic poly(malic acid) and poly(glutamic acid) as prospective drug-delivery systems.
abstract: The hydrolytic degradability and erythromycin release from stoichiometric ionic complexes of biotechnological poly(beta,L-malic acid)s and poly(gamma,D-glutamic acid)s with alkyltrimethylammonium surfactants were investigated. The influence of pH, temperature and antibiotic load on hydrolysis rate was examined. It was found that poly(malic acid) complexes degraded by a surface erosion mechanism at a higher rate than poly(glutamic acid) complexes, which eroded in bulk. Erythromycin was lodged in the paraffinic subphase of the complexes and upon aging it was delivered according to a sigmoidal profile that appeared to be independent on the antibiotic load.
authors.affiliation: Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, ETSEIB, Diagonal 647, Barcelona 08028, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Portilla-Arias
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Alvarez
authors.forename: Antxon Martínez
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Ilarduya
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Guerra
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007477:Ions; D007700:Kinetics; D008293:Malates; D008422:Materials Testing; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D011108:Polymers; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D007477:Ions; D008293:Malates; D011108:Polymers; C121060:poly(malic acid); D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D004917:Erythromycin