Abstract: Feasibility of molecularly imprinted polymeric microspheres (MIPs) has been investigated for colonic delivery of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). 5-ASA imprinted microspheres were prepared by a single step precipitation polymerization of 2-(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DEAEMA; functional monomer) and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM; crosslinker). The release profiles of 5-ASA imprinted and non-imprinted microspheres were evaluated. We present a precipitation polymerization method for preparing uniform molecularly imprinted microspheres in micron range, quickly and cleanly. Monodisperse polymer particles with good spherical shapes and smooth surfaces were obtained. Furthermore, the imprinted microspheres have a slower 5-ASA release in the initial stages than the non-imprinted microspheres, because of the interaction of the drug molecules with the recognition sites in the imprinted microspheres. This result showed that molecular imprinting may have a potential for controlled delivery of drugs
Template and target information: 5-aminosalicylic acid, 5-ASA
Author keywords: molecular imprinting, colonic delivery, 5-aminosalicylic acid, precipitation polymerization, microspheres, 2-(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate