Synthesis of Pullulan-g-Poly(N-Vynylcaprolactam-co-Acrylic acid) for application in controlled drug delivery systems

• Grant number: 22/01649-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): August 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Amilton Martins dos Santos
• Grantee: Carolina Menditi Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Controlled drug delivery systems were created through the improvement of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to overcome existing problems in the conventional administration, such as drug's side effects, and to give control of the rate, time, and place of drug release in the organism. For the development of polymeric-controlled release systems for in vivo application, it is necessary to use polymers that must be biocompatible and preferably biodegradable. Within this context, the main objective of this project is the synthesis of the grafted copolymer Pullulan-g-Poly(N-Vinyl caprolactam-co-Acrylic acid) (Pul-g-P(NVCL-co-AA)) that can be used as a polymeric hydrophilic matrix, that is also biocompatible, partially biodegradable, and sensitive to temperature and pH changes for application in controlled drug delivery systems. In the first stage, the chemical modification of pullulan will be performed through the grafting of P (NVCL-co-AA) in the backbone of the biopolymer via the RAFT/MADIX mechanism to obtain Pul-g-P(NVCL-co-AA), with different molecular masses. Then, micro/nanoparticles will be prepared by spray-drying technique. Pullulan and grafted copolymers will be characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The molecular masses of all the polymers will be determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The average diameter and the morphology of the particles will be evaluated using an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM).(AU)