Study of Loading and Releasing of Fluvoxamine in Hydrogels Prepared by Ultrasound Irradiation

Abstract

Adrug delivery process at a particular organ or site and at a specific timerequires drug dose adjustment to reduce side effects and accelerate fasterhealing. The three parameters of time, site and release rate can be modulatedby controlled drug delivery systems. Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymers andcopolymers with three-dimensional network structures that nowadays are used in new controlled drug delivery systems. These macromolecules can respond to external stimuli such as temperature, pH and ionic strength. In this study, biocompatible acrylic hydrogels, synthesized by ultrasound, were studied to examine controlled drug release of Fluvoxamine. A pulsed power ultrasound was applied to the reaction mixture from the tip of a probe unit. It was found that hydrogel formation was faster using ultrasound. The results showed that ultrasonic irradiation significantly reduced the reaction time and increased efficiency. Additionally, increasing glycerol in the solution improved the viscosity of the reaction towards higher reaction rate. Also, we studied the stimuli sensitivity and swelling of hydrogels, and the rate of drug release at different temperatures and pH media. The results showed that the ultrasound irradiated acrylic hydrogels were sensitized towards pH and temperature variations. These hydrogels, due to their highly porous structure, were capable to load and release the drug rapidly and their performances were affected by pH and temperature. Also, the results showed that in a simulated body environment, the hydrogels were suitable options as controlled drug delivery systems in intestinal media. The ultrasonic polymerization method described here has a wide range of applications in biomaterial synthesis where initiators are not desired. The method adopted in this study can be developed for other gels and drugs.

Keywords

• controlled delivery
• fluvoxamine
• ultrasound
• acrylic acid
• acrylamide