SYNTHESIS OF PULLULAN-g-POLY(N-VINYLCAPROLACTAM-co-ACRYLIC ACID) FOR APPLICATION IN SYSTEMS OF CONTROLLED DRUG RELEASE

• Grant number: 23/03046-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Amilton Martins dos Santos
• Grantee: Gabriela Aparecida Braga Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Controlled drug delivery systems were created by improving pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to overcome existing problems in conventional administration, such as drug side effects, and also to control the rate, time and site of release in the body. For the development of polymeric controlled release systems intended for in vivo application, it is necessary to use polymers that are obligatorily biocompatible and preferably biodegradable. Within this context, the main objective of this research project is the synthesis of the grafted copolymer Pullulan-g-Poly(N-Vinylcaprolactam-co-Acrylic Acid) (Pul-g-P(NVCL-co-AA)) which can be used as a matrix hydrophilic polymeric, biocompatible, partially biodegradable, sensitive to changes in temperature and pH for application in controlled drug release systems. The chemical modification of pullulan will be studied via the grafting of P(NVCL-co-AA) in the biopolymer via the RAFT/MADIX mechanism to obtain Pul-g-P(NVCL-co-AA), with different molecular weights. The pullulan and the grafted copolymers will be characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The molecular weights of all polymers will be determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC).