Starch cellulose acetate co-acrylate (SCAA) polymer as a drug carrier

The present study aims to create a controlled-release system through the preparation and characterization of starch cellulose acetate co-acrylate (SCAA) polymer for application as a carrier for cancer drugs. SCA was prepared from maize starch and different ratios of cellulose acetate. The obtained product SCA was reacted with acrylic acid monomer to give cellulose acetate co-acrylate. The best ratio of starch to cellulose acetate was found to be 90:10, giving a stable product with acrylic acid. The cancer drug 8-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dioxo-6-thioxo-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-2h-pyrimido[6,1-c]-[1,2,4]triazine-9-carbonitrile was dissolved in dimethylformamide then added gradually at the end of the previous reaction under stirring for 15 min. The prepared polymers with and without the drug were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Cuboids discs of the prepared polymer/drug were subjected to drug release in aqueous media at different pH values. The release was measured spectrophotometrically. It was found that the release rate depends on the pH of the aqueous medium as well as on the concentration of the drug loaded onto the polymer carrier. Above pH 12, the polymer containing the drug degraded completely within 1 h after being subjected to alkaline media. Sustained release of drug extended to about 20 days. The amount released depended on the pH of the media in the following order: basic media > acidic media > neutral. According to Higuch’s equation, the diffusion coefficient was found to be 4.2 × 10^?8 and 5.5 × 10^?8 cm s^?1 for the two evaluated concentrations (1.5 and 2 %) of active organic compound (drug).