title: Synthesis and properties of methacrylic-functionalized tween monomer networks.
abstract: Tween surfactants possess very interesting properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. The synthesis of acrylate monomers by means of the chemical modification of polysorbate surfactants Tween 20, 40, and 60 with unsaturated groups is described. Monomers were obtained as a result of the reaction of methacrylic anhydride with different grades of Tween surfactants. Further polymerization was carried out in tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, and a mixture of water-tetrahydrofuran. Physicochemistry properties of the polymer networks were investigated, and the obtained results reveal that they strongly depend on the type of solvent used during the polymerization, as well as on the concentration of the casting solution. In particular, our study demonstrated that, depending on the solvent boiling point, i.e., the facility to remove the solvent from the polymer matrix, it is possible to predict properties of the network morphology. Moreover, in vitro studies on controlled release were accomplished to demonstrate the possibility of utilizing these new materials as drug delivery systems. All resulting networks represent a novel class of cross-linked polymeric materials useful both in pharmaceutical and chemical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Calabria University, Edificio Polifunzionale, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Cosenza, Italy. rita.muzzalupo@unical.it
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muzzalupo
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tavano
authors.forename: Cesare Oliviero
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cassano
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trombino
authors.forename: Nevio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Picci
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D008689:Methacrylates; D011136:Polysorbates