Molecularly imprinted polymers for alpha-tocopherol delivery.
Biomedical applications of antioxidants have increased dramatically since the link between human diseases and oxidative stress was established. This paper focuses on alpha -tocopherol and on the possibility of employing molecularly imprinted polymers as a controlled release device for alpha-tocopherol in gastrointestinal simulating fluids. Polymers were synthesized using methacrylic acid as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker. Considerable differences in recognition characteristics between imprinted and non-imprinted polymers, both in organic and in aqueous media, were observed. Imprinted polymers bound much more alpha-tocopherol and showed a controlled/sustained drug release capacity in gastrointestinal simulating fluids.
Puoci
Francesco
F
Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università della Calabria, Arcavacata di Rende, Italy. francesco.puoci@unical.it
Cirillo
Giuseppe
G
Curcio
Manuela
M
Iemma
Francesca
F
Parisi
Ortensia Ilaria
OI
Castiglione
Mariarosaria
M
Picci
Nevio
N
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000378:metabolism; D007419:Intestinal Secretions / Q000378:metabolism; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D054802:Molecular Imprinting; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D000975:Antioxidants; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008689:Methacrylates; D011108:Polymers; C008384:methacrylic acid; C004919:ethylene dimethacrylate; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol