Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymers for constant temperature controlled drug delivery

lnthecourseof the development of anew drug delivery concept, four thermosensitive copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), with phase transition temperature slightly higher than 37degreesC, were synthesised and used as time-controlled drug delivery agents. For this purpose, compression-coated tablets coated with the thermosensitive copolymers and containing Na2SO4 were prepared and in vitro dissolution tests were performed at constant physiological temperature, the lag time before drug release being controlled by the amount of Na2SO4 incorporated into the form. Due to the salting out effect, the lag time was increased by up to 80-90% for PNIPAAm-co-NVA and PNIPAAm-co-MVA coated tablets. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.