Radiation synthesis and characterization of polystyrene methacrylic acid microcomposite for drug delivery uses

Abstract EN

Polystyrene/methacrylic acid microcomposites (PSty/MAA) with different metal particles; Ni, Fe or Cu have been entrapped in the copolymer matrix by using gamma rays.

Effects of time, pH and type of metal particles on the swelling behavior of microcomposites were investigated in aqueous solution.

It was observed that, the swelling capacity of all investigated microcomposites increases with an increase in the pH of the medium and the optimum pH is 7.The prepared micronocomposites were investigated by using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

TGA demonstrated that PSty/MAA microcomposites exhibited higher thermal stability compared to PSty/MAA hydrogel.

The amount of metal particles in PSty/MAA microcomposites is about 11.70, 7.75, and 12.37 wt% for PSty/MAA-Ni, PSty/MAA-Fe and PSty/MAA-Cu, respectively.

The data of DLS indicate that the average particle sizes obtained of different investigated microcomposites are ordered in sequence of PSty/MAA-Ni > PSty/MAA-Fe > PSty/MAA-Cu.

The in vitro Chlortetracycline HCl release studies from Psty/MAA-Ni, Psty/MAA-Fe and Psty/MAA-Cu microcomposites at pH 7 are 58, 68 and 83%, respectively, after 7h.

Complete release of Chlortetracycline HCl (100%) was reached after 10h from Psty/MAA-Cu microcomposite.

The obtained microcomposites can be successfully used as drug delivery and Psty/MAA-Cu microcomposite was found to be the most effective one.