Browsing by Author "Faccia, Paula"

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    Evaluation of pH-sensitive poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-2- (diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) copolymers as drug delivery systems for potential applications in ophthalmic therapies ocular delivery of drugs
    (2015) Faccia, Paula; Pardini, Francisco; Amalvy, Javier
    Smart polymers like pH sensitive systems can improve different pharmacological treatment. In this work the behavior of copolymers containing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with different proportions of 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DPA) and different amounts of cross-linker agent, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) are evaluated as pH- sensitive drug delivery system for potential application in ophthalmic therapies. A detailed characterization of the pH-responsive behavior was performed by swelling studies and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Drug loading and release studies at different pH values were evaluated using Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) as a model drug. The interaction between Rh6G and hydrogels was studied by FTIR spectroscopy and SEM. The results show that the presence of DPA in the copolymers confers pH-responsive properties to the polymer, as noted in swelling and SEM studies, when the pH decreases below 7.40 the swelling degree increases and a porous morphology is observed. The apparent pKa of copolymers was estimated between 6.80 and 7.17 depending on the composition. The amount of Rh6G loaded depends mainly on the medium pH and the interaction between the drug and the copolymers, observed by SEM and FTIR spectrum. The release of Rh6G of copolymers p(HEMA/DPA) show a normal Fickian or anomalous diffusion behavior at different pH values, depending on the HEMA/DPA ratio.
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    Evaluation of pH-sensitive polyurethane 2-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate hybrids potentially useful for drug delivery developments
    (2015) Pardini, Francisco; Faccia, Paula; Amalvy, Javier
    Smart sensitive polymers have been used to improve processes in drug delivery. In this article, we evaluate the behavior of polyurethane/N,N-diethylaminoethyl methacrylate hybrids (PU/DEA) as pH- responsive polymers potentially useful for drug delivery systems development, using Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) as a model drug. A detailed pH responsive characterization was performed by swelling studies and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Two drug loading methods on drug release-immersion and direct loading were evaluated. The interaction between Rh6G and the polymer matrix was studied by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and contact angle determination. The kinetic study of Rh6G release was performed at basic and acidic pH; the mechanism of drug delivery was analyzed using Ritger-Peppas' equation. We discuss about polymer's active sites and drug's distribution through the matrix in relation to both loading methods. Results showed a pH-responsive behavior and morphological changes when pH solution varied from 9.0 to 4.0. In the immersion loading method, results indicated a higher Rh6G molecule concentration at the surface as well as ionic interaction between the drug and polymer's carboxylic groups. Release studies confirmed the pH-sensitive hybrid systems' behavior and kinetic exponent values indicated different mechanism's transport types depending on loading method and polymer composition.
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    Synthesis, characterization and swelling behavior of new pH-sensitive hydrogels derived from copolymers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 2-(diisopropylamino) ethylmethacrylate
    (2012) Faccia, Paula; Amalvy, Javier
    The aim of this work was to synthesize and to characterize new pH-sensitive hydrogels that can be used in the controlled release of drugs, useful for dermal treatments or ophthalmology’s therapies. Copolymers containing 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with different amounts of 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DPA) (10 and 30 wt %) and different amounts of cross- linker agent, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) (1 and 3 wt %) were prepared by bulk photo-polymerization. The copolymers were fully characterized by using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric anal- ysis, UV–visible spectroscopy, and measuring water content and dynamic swelling degree. The results show that modifications in the amount of DPA and/or crosslinker in the hydrogel produce variations in the thermal properties. When adding of DPA, we observed an increase in the thermal stability and decomposition temperature, as well as a change in the mechanism of decomposition. Also a decrease in the glass transition temperature was observed with regard to the value for pure pHEMA, by the addition of DPA. The water content of the hydrogels depends on the DPA content and it is inversely proportional to both the pH value and the crosslinking degree. Pure poly-HEMA films did not show important changes over the pH range studied in this work. The dynamic swelling curves show the overshooting effect associated with the incorporation of DPA, the pH of the solution, and the crosslinking density. On the other hand, no important variations in the optical properties were observed. The synthesized hydrogels are useful as a drug delivery pH-sensitive matrix.