Adriano V. Reis

Reaction of Glycidyl Methacrylate at the Hydroxyl and Carboxylic Groups of Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Poly(acrylic acid): Is This Reaction Mechanism Still Unclear?

Transesterification and epoxide ring-opening reactions are two mechanism routes that explain chemical modifications of macromolecules by glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). Although the coupling reaction of the GMA with macromolecules has widely been investigated, there are still mechanisms that remain to be explained when GMA is processed in an aqueous solution at different pH conditions. To this end, reaction mechanisms of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc) by GMA in water in acidic and basic conditions were investigated thoroughly. The presence of hydroxyl groups in PVA and carboxyl groups in PAAc allowed for a better evaluation of the reaction mechanisms. The analysis of the (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra clearly demonstrated that the chemical reactions of GMA with carboxyl groups and alcohols of the macromolecules in an aqueous solution are dependent on pH conditions. At pH 3.5, the GMA reacts with both the carboxylic and the hydroxyl groups through an epoxide ring-opening mechanism. At pH 10.5, the GMA undergoes a hydrolysis process and reacts with hydroxyl groups by way of both the transesterification and the epoxide ring-opening mechanisms, whereas the ring-opening reaction is the preferential pathway.

Synthesis and water absorption transport mechanism of a pH-sensitive polymer network structured on vinyl-functionalized pectin.

Polysaccharide-structured copolymer hydrogel having excellent pH-sensitivity was developed from N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAc) and vinyl-functionalized Pectin (Pec). The Pec was vinyl-functionalized by way of chemical reaction with glycidyl metacrylate (GMA) in water under acidic and thermal stimuli. 13C NMR, 1H NMR, and FT-IR spectra revealed that the vinyl groups coming from the GMA were attached onto backbone of the polysaccharide. The hydrogels were obtained by polymerization of the Pec-vinyl with the DMAc. 13C-CP/MAS NMR and FTIR spectra confirmed that the gelling process occurred by way of the vinyl groups attached on Pec-vinyl backbone. The values of apparent swelling rate constant (k) decreased appreciably for pH greater than 6, demonstrating the swelling process of the hydrogel becomes slower at more alkaline conditions. There was an increase of diffusional exponent (n) with increasing pH of the surrounding liquid. This means the water absorption profile becomes more dependent on the polymer relaxation in basified swelling media. In this condition, a longer water absorption half-time (t1/2) was verified, suggesting the polymer relaxation mechanism of the hydrogel would have a considerable effect on the t1/2.

Synthesis of Hollow-Structured Nano- and Microspheres from Pectin in a Nanodroplet Emulsion

Hollow-structured nano- and microspheres with diameters ranging from 24 microm to 160 nm were successfully produced from chemically modified pectin (Ma-Pec) through a two-step synthesis. In a first step, the Pec was modified with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) in a heterogeneous phase system, indeed consisting of water-soluble Pec and water-insoluble GMA, via an interfacial reaction at the interface of the GMA-water phase system after 12 h under continuous stirring of 1000 rpm at 60 degrees C. In a second step, the spheres were prepared in a water-in-benzyl alcohol nanodroplet emulsion at 12000 rpm under a bubbling stream of nitrogen in the presence of sodium persulfate, as initiator, and TEMED, as catalytic agent. FT-IR spectra revealed that the vinyl groups (CC) coming from the GMA were attached onto backbone of the polysaccharide. 13C-CP/MAS NMR spectra demonstrated that the spheres were formed via carbon-carbon pi-bonds on Ma-Pec in the water phase, for the duration of the dispersion stage. The dark center (an empty core) and edge of the hollow spheres could be easily identified by SEM micrographs. This type of polymer structure represents a class of unique material with particular importance in terms of state-of the-art applications in both nano- and microencapsulation of drugs, for example, protection shields of biologically active agents.

Smart hollow microspheres of chondroitin sulfate conjugates and magnetite nanoparticles for magnetic vector

Smart hollow microspheres composed of vinyled-chondroitin sulfate conjugates (CSπ) and magnetite nanoparticles were obtained by the intermediate of a multiple emulsion in absence of a surfactant, attributable to stabilizing properties of the CS. It was formed an oil-water multiple emulsion in which the CS played a role as an anionic stabilizer for magnetite nanoparticles via complexation. Iron oxides were bonded to the microspheres by the formation of a complex of Fe(3+) ions on the crystalline phase with oxygen atoms at the carboxyl groups without their magnetic properties being affected. The average crystal size of embedded magnetite nanoparticles was approximately 16.5nm, indicative of a good dispersion in microspheres. Furthermore, the introduction of iron oxides resulted in microspheres with a higher diameter and a narrower particle size distribution.

A pH/enzyme-responsive polymer film consisting of Eudragit ® FS 30 D and arabinoxylane as a potential material formulation for colon-specific drug delivery system

Polymer film based on pH-dependent Eudragit® FS 30 D acrylic polymer in association with arabinoxylane, a polysaccharide issued from gum psyllium, was produced by way of solvent casting. Physical-chemical characterization of the polymer film samples was performed by means of thermogravimetry (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, water-equilibrium swelling index (Is) and weight loss of the films in KCl buffer solution of pH 1.2, in KH2PO4 buffer solution of pH 5.0, or in KH2PO4 buffer solution of pH 5.0 consisting of 4% enzyme Pectinex® 3X-L (w/v) were also carried out for the film characterization. No chemical interactions between the Eudragit® FS 30 D and the arabinoxylane polymer chains were evidenced, thus suggesting that the film-forming polymer structure was obtained from a physical mixture of both polymers. The arabinoxylane-loader films showed a more pronounced weight loss after their immersion in buffer solution containing enzyme Pectinex® 3X-L. The introduction of the arabinoxylane makes the film more susceptible to undergo an enzymatic degradation. This meant that the enzyme-dependent propriety issued from the arabinoxylane has been imprinted into the film formulation. This type of polymer film is an interesting system for applications in colon-specific drug delivery system.

Avaliação da pectina fosfatada aplicada na formação de filmes isolados: Material candidato a novos sistemas para liberação modificada de fármacos

Phosphated pectin (Pect-TMFT) together with α-gluco-oligossacaride (Bioecolians®) were incorporated into aqueous dispersion of polymethacrylate (Eudragit® RS 30 D) to obtain free films by the casting process (50oC) in Teflon® plate. Pect-TMFT and Bioecolians® were added into dispersions of Eudragit ® RS 30 D at different rates: 90:05:05, 80:10:10 and 70:20:10 (4% p/v). Triethyl citrate (TEC) was used as plasticizer (20% of mass of the polymethacrylate). The proposed dispersions showed film formation ability. The free films were characterized by the determination of water vapour transmission (WVT), by the swelling index (Ii%) in fluids of gastric simulation (FGS) and intestinal (FIS) and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The increase of modified polysaccharide and Bioecolians® in the films favored their permeability to the water vapour and their hydration degree when in FIS (pH = 6.8). In that way, the obtained film in the concentration 70:20:10, can prevent the premature release of the drug in the up GIT when applied to develop oral solid systems coating. Besides, the presence of Pect-TMFT and Bioecolians® can contribute to the specific membrane degradation by colonic microflora enzymes, making possible a modified release kinetics of drugs even with the existence of inter-individual variations of pH.