Synthesis and characterization of hydrogels of poly(acrylic acid): mathematical modeling and applications in controlled drug release

• Grant number: 12/11532-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal researcher: Reinaldo Giudici
• Grantee: Leandro Gonçalves de Aguiar
• Home Institution: Escola Politécnica (EP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The application of hydrosoluble polymer networks (or hydrogels) has been studied deeply in research laboratories during the last decades. Superabsorbent polymers, such as hydrogels of poly(acrylic acid), have unique properties, which allow important applications in sanitary industry, agriculture, environment, separation processes among others. Currently, these hydrogels are also used in biology and medicine for producing controlled drug release devices. Their highly porous structures allow the incorporation of drugs to the gel matrix and subsequent releasing at a rate dependent on diffusion coefficient of the molecules through the polymer network. The present work aims to study the synthesis of acrylic acid/trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) copolymers and its mathematical representation through the building of a kinetic model. This model will contain methods such as: mass and moments balances, numerical fractionation and paths' method . It is proposed to determine and/or to correct kinetic parameters related to the chemical reactions occurring within this system. It will be conducted acrylic acid homopolymerization and acrylic acid/TMPTA copolymerizations in aqueous solution and inverse suspension, using 2,2'-Azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride as thermal initiator. Polymers of different qualities will be produced in order to verify the influence of process conditions over their final properties. It is intended to carry out kinetic studies of loading/releasing of insulin and of the hydrogel behavior in function of pH of the medium. Another purpose is to verify the availability to apply acrylic acid/TMPTA copolymers of different compositions and architectures on the controlled insulin release. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

AGUIAR, LEANDRO G.; IWAKURA, DANIEL C.; SEMEANO, ANA T. S.; LI, ROSAMARIA W. C.; SOUZA, ESMAR F.; GRUBER, JONAS; GIUDICI, REINALDO. Controlled release of an optically active compound by hydrogels of acrylic acid and its online detection. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, v. 96, n. 5, p. 1221-1227, MAY 2018. Web of Science Citations: 2.

RAYMUNDI, VANESSA C.; AGUIAR, LEANDRO G.; SOUZA, ESMAR F.; SATO, ANA C.; GIUDICI, REINALDO. Controlled release of insulin through hydrogels of (acrylic acid)/trimethylolpropane triacrylate. HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER, v. 52, n. 10, p. 2193-2201, OCT 2016. Web of Science Citations: 2.

AGUIAR, LEANDRO G.; SOUZA, ESMAR F.; GIUDICI, REINALDO. Kinetic modeling of the copolymerization of acrylic acid and trimethylolpropane triacrylate over pre and post-gelation periods. EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL, v. 74, p. 264-278, JAN 2016. Web of Science Citations: 2.