title: Phosphorylated curdlan microgels. Preparation, characterization, and in vitro drug release studies.
abstract: Curdlan derivative with anionic phosphate groups was used for the first time to obtain hydrogel microspheres. The chemical cross-linking of the phosphorylated curdlan was performed with epichlorohydrin using the water-in-oil inverse emulsion technique. The optical and scanning electron microscopies were used to analyze the morphology of the microgels, whereas the FTIR spectroscopy was used to investigate their chemical structure. The main characteristics such as the swelling degree, the exchange capacity, and the thermal resistance were also studied. These new anionic microgels could be used as potential carriers for controlled release of opposite charged drugs retained through electrostatic forces. Diphenhydramine, a cationic model drug, was used to investigate the loading and the release processes in various pH media simulating physiological fluids. Several mathematical models were applied to evaluate the drug transport processes and to calculate the drug diffusion coefficients. The synthesized microspheres presented an excellent biocompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Aleea Grigore Ghica Voda 41A, 700487 Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Irina M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Pelin
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Butnaru
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fundueanu
authors.forename: Dana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Suflet
mesh_terms: D004058:Diffusion; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008863:Microspheres; D008958:Models, Molecular; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D047071:beta-Glucans; D014867:Water; C038459:curdlan