title: Molecular structure of physiologically-responsive hydrogels controls diffusive behavior.
abstract: Polymeric networks and the ensuing hydrogels of MAA and NVP were successfully synthesized using a UV-initiated free radical polymerization and characterized to assess their applicability as carriers for directed drug delivery. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed shifts in peak absorbances that indicated the presence of hydrogen bonding complexes between functional groups, while SEM imaging showed that the different comonomers affect the surface morphology of the microparticles. Dynamic pH swelling studies demonstrated the pH responsiveness of the carriers in gastric and intestinal conditions and revealed that systems containing higher concentrations of MAA experienced the highest degree of hydrogen bonding complexation in gastric conditions. The presence of NVP in the systems enhanced swelling. Equilibrium swelling studies revealed that the mesh size was sufficiently large to allow drug diffusion across the networks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Peppas
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008422:Materials Testing; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011205:Povidone / Q000737:chemistry; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; C042670:N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone; D011205:Povidone