Abstract

Background: Poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) is a biodegradable polyester synthesized from succinic acid (SA) and 1,4 butanediol (BD). SA is derived from renewable resources and several chemicals can be produced from it, such as BD. Poly (vinyl acetate) (PVAc) also attracts attention in pharmaceutical applications. The development of copolymers of PBS and PVAc and entrapment of drugs can thus result in relevant drug delivery system (DDS) with improved properties for pharmaceutical applications.

Objective: This work presents a new copolymer based on PBS and PVAc (PBS-g-PVAc). Ibuprofen was entrapped into PBS-g-PVAc particles to be used as DDS.

Method: Polymerization of SA, maleic acid, and BD was performed in order to insert carbon double bonds in PBS (uPBS). The unsaturation acts as the site for the grafting of PVAc, leading to the formation of a reticulate PBS-g-PVAc copolymer. The intermediary and copolymer were characterized by several techniques. PBS-g-PVAc had the swelling index evaluated for several solvents. Ibuprofen was entrapped into PBS-g-PVAc particles and PBS-g-PVAc_Ibu system was characterized, to determine ibuprofen entrapment and entrapment efficiency.

Results: The characterization supports the obtaining of PBS-g-PVAc. Ability to control the swelling of the material was used to entrap ibuprofen. XRD and SEM support that ibuprofen was entrapped into PBS-g-PVAc particles and high entrapment efficiency into PBS-g-PVAc particles was achieved.

Conclusion: Results allowed concluding that PBS-g-PVAc could be of great importance to the entrapment of drugs that have limited use due to poor processability and/or bioavailability. The ease of preparation could increase the efficiency and adherence to treatment.

Keywords: Drug delivery system, ibuprofen, polymer swelling, poly (butylene succinate), poly (vinyl acetate), succinic acid.

Graphical Abstract