Controlled pesticide release from biodegradable polymers

Polymers have been widely used in agriculture for applications including controlled release of pesticides and other active ingredients. The ability to predict their delivery helps avoid environmental hazards. Macromolecular matrices used as carriers in controlled release of agricultural active agents, especially pesticides, are reviewed. The review focuses on the advantages and mechanisms of controlled release. It includes biodegradable polymers in agriculture, their manufacturing methods, and their degradation mechanisms and kinetics. The article also presents a critical account of recent release studies and considers upcoming challenges.      

Preparation of substituted ionic carbohydrate polymers and their interactions with ionic surfactants

The formation of micelles of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) in aqueous solutions containing charged polysaccharides was studied by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements using pyrene as a photophysical probe. Micropolarity studies using the I₁/I₃ ratio of the vibronic emission bands of pyrene and the behaviour of the I_E/I_M ratio between the excimer and monomer emissions show the formation of hydrophobic domains. The interactions between the polyelectrolytes and surfactants of opposite charge lead to the formation of induced pre-micelles at surfactant concentrations lower than the critical micellar concentration (cmc) of the surfactants. At similar concentrations, the I_E/I_M ratio shows a peak. This aggregation process is assumed to be due to electrostatic attractions. At higher surfactant concentrations, near the critical micellar concentration, micelles with the same properties as those found in pure aqueous solution are formed. On the other hand, systems containing polyelectrolytes and surfactants of the same charge do not show this behaviour at low concentrations. The presence of long alkyl chains bound to the polyelectrolytes also induces the formation of free micelles at concentrations somewhat below the aqueous cmc.     

Controlled release of dual drugs from emulsion electrospun nanofibrous mats

The purpose of this work is to develop a novel type of tissue engineering scaffold or drugs delivery carrier with the capability of encapsulation and controlled release drugs. In this study, Rhodamine B and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) were successfully incorporated into nanofibers by means of emulsion electrospinning. The morphology of composite nanofibers was studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The composite nanofibrous mats made from emulsion electrospinning were characterized by water contact angle measurement and X-ray diffraction. In vitro dual drugs release behaviors from composite nanofibrous mats were investigated. The results indicated that the incorporated drug and/or proteins in composite fibrous mats made from electrospinning could be control released by adjusting the processes of emulsions preparation.     

Controlled drug release from gels using lipophilic interactions of charged substances with surfactants and polymers

The aim of this article was to study interactions between different gel forming polymers and amphiphilic drugs and surfactants with the intention of finding interactions that can be used for designing controlled release formulations. The release from gels was measured by detecting the UV-absorbance of drugs released from 6 mL gel into 250 mL release medium in a dissolution bath. The rheological behavior of gels was characterized using a controlled rate rheometer. The diffusion coefficient of alprenolol was 6.3 x 10(-6) cm(2)/s when formulated in a 1% poly(acrylic acid) gel (PAA) and 2.8 x 10(-6) cm(2)/s in a lipophilically modified gel (LM-PAA). The addition of alprenolol to 1% LM-PAA increased the elasticity, G', from 123 to 182 Pa. Increased gel strength was also observed for a number of other amphiphilic drugs. The addition of 1% Brij 58 to LM-PAA decreased the diffusion coefficient of alprenolol to 2.3 x 10(-6) cm(2)/s. It was possible to sustain the release of charged drugs with high log P by adding surfactant micelles. However, the effect was small and only useful for drugs with adequate lipophilicity. The interaction between LM-PAA and amphiphilic drugs could be seen using rheology and was used for designing controlled release gel formulations. In this way surfactants can be avoided, thus decreasing toxicity problems.     

层状复合氢氧化物的药物控释动力学机制

以层状复合氢氧化物(LDH)为载体组装乙酰苯甲酸(ASP)的插层复合物LDH-ASP,以pH2.48~6.89的磷酸盐溶液为介质进行药物释放动力学实验,通过对不同时间药物释放度的测定及释放药物后载体结构变化分析研究了LDH对层间药物的控制释放机制。结果表明粉末状LDH-ASP能在较宽的pH范围表现明显缓控释作用,药物释放度积分方程与Higchi方程、Ritger-Peppas方程、Bhaskar方程及一级动力学方程等经验模型吻合。复合物与溶出介质的反应机制研究表明,药物释放速率及释放度大小取决于交换配比n(ASP)/n[HnPO4(3-n)-]所决定的LDH层间通道畅阻情况。     

SN-conducting polymers with heterocyclic spacer groups

Polymer-containing alternating sulfur nitrogen moieties separated by heterocyclic groups have been synthesized and characterized. The polymers have undoped conductivities of 10^?6 to 10^?9 (Ω cm)^?1; the intrinsic carriers are negatively charged as shown by thermopower coefficient of ?1.4 × 10³ to ?1.9 × 10³ μV K^?1. The polymers are degraded by AsF₅ and cannot be doped by iodine. Exposure to bromine resulted in reversible p-doping of the SN polymers to the thermopower values of +400 to +820 μV K^?1 and conductivities of 0.01 to 0.002 (Ω cm)^?1. Removal of dopant by evacuation returns most of the properties of the polymers to the undoped states. Magnetic properties of the materials have been studied.     

Dendronized polymers with tailored surface groups

A series of polymers tethered with bis‐MPA dendrons was synthesized by a combination of divergent growth and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Macromonomers of first and second generation were synthesized utilizing the acetonide protected anhydride of bis‐MPA as the generic esterfication agent. The macromonomers were polymerized in a controlled fashion by ATRP utilizing Cu(I)/Cu(II) and N‐propyl‐2‐pyridylmethanamine as the halogen/ligand system. The end‐groups of these polymers were further tailored to achieve hydroxyl, acetate, and aliphatic hexadecyl functionality. With this approach all polymers will emanate from the same backbone, enabling for an evaluation of both the generation and end‐group dependent properties. Furthermore, a dendronized tri‐block copolymer was synthesized. All materials were analyzed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, as well as size‐exclusion chromatography (SEC). The SEC analysis revealed that the molecular weights of the divergently grown dendronized polymers increased with increasing generation while the polydispersity (PDI) was kept low. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3852–3867, 2005     

Controlled release of Ibuprofen from dealuminated faujasites

Four dealuminated faujasite samples have been employed as matrices for Ibuprofen adsorption and in vitro drug delivery with the aim of adapting the pore size to the size of the drug molecule and to study the influence of Al content upon the drug delivery. Ca. 15 wt% of Ibuprofen is adsorbed in the zeolite cavities. FTIR shows that the zeolite hydroxyl groups interact with Ibuprofen and, in addition, carboxylate species bonded to extraframework Al species are detected in the most dealuminated samples. Two stages are observed in the Ibuprofen delivery. In the first hours, the release is governed by a diffusion process, showing a similar delivery rate independently of the Al content. However, after this stage, the Al content is determinant in drug delivery, being the release faster when the framework Si/Al ratio increases up to 22, and then decreases for Si/Al=62. The behaviour of the highly dealuminated material is probably due to the predominance of Van der Waals interaction between the drug and the siliceous zeolite framework.     

Control of release kinetics of macromolecules from polymers

Internal and external means for controlling the release rates of large molecules, such as proteins, from ethylene—vinyl acetate copolymer matrices are presented. Internal approaches include alteration of the polymer—drug design, such as changing drug loading and particle size, coating the matrix, or altering matrix geometry. Kinetic and microstructural analyses are discussed. Applications of these polymeric systems, for instance, in delivery of insulin for diabetes, improved immunization procedures, and in developing bioassays for informational macromolecules are considered. In addition, a new approach for externally controlling release rates of drugs using magnetism has been developed. Until now, drug delivery systems were capable of delivering drugs at either constant or decreasing rates. We sought a system that permitted delivery of increased doses on demand, and achieved this by incorporating magnetic particles and drugs into polymeric matrices. Drug release rates can then be increased by an appropriate application of an external magnetic field. Over a five-day period, the magnetic field was applied ten times and drug release rates increased by up to 100% each time. Initial results indicate that this system does not cause tissue damage.     

Controlled release of DNA from photoresponsive hyperbranched polyglycerols with oligoamine shells

Two photo-responsive core/shell nanoparticles based on hyperbranched polyglycerol (hPG) are synthesized for controlled release of DNA. The shell is composed either of bis-(3-aminopropyl)methylamine (AMPA) or pentaethylenehexamine (PEHA) derivatives and is attached to the hPG core with a photo-responsive o-nitrobenzyl linker. Ethidium bromide displacement assay, gel electrophoresis, DLS, and ζ-potential measurements are performed with these nanoparticles. Photo-responsive changes within the carrier scaffold are investigated by irradiating the polymer solution with 350 nm monochromatic light. Fully covered APMA-shelled carriers are found to complex the DNA at an N/P ratio of 10 with an average size ranging from 54 to 78 nm depending on the degree of functionalization of the core.     

Synthesis and properties of polycondensation polymers from compounds with asymmetric functional groups

The effect of conditions of polycondensation on the structure of polymers formed from monomers with symmetric and asymmetric functional groups by nonequilibrium polycondensation has been studied for the system with acceptor-catalytic polyesterification of β-hydroxyethyl ethers of bisphenols and terephthalic acid chloride in the presence of triethylamine. Polymers with statistical or regular arrangement of diol residues in the chain can be produced in such systems, depending on the way in which starting compounds are introduced in the reactor. A difference in the reactivity of functional groups in an asymmetric monomer is not sufficient to produce polycondensation polymers with a regular structure. Gradual introduction of the symmetric monomer is essential to yield polymers with predominant “head-to-head” (“tail-to-tail”) configurations. Some properties of the resulting polymers have been studied. Polymers with ordered residues of the asymmetric monomers in the macromolecules have higher softening temperatures and an increased tendency for crystallization than the statistic polymers.     

Controlled drug release from bifunctionalized mesoporous silica

Serial of trimethylsilyl-carboxyl bifunctionalized SBA-15 (TMS/COOH/SBA-15) have been studied as carriers for controlled release of drug famotidine (Famo). To load Famo with large capacity, SBA-15 with high content of carboxyl groups was successfully synthesized by one-pot synthesis under the assistance of KCl. The mesostructure of carboxyl functionalized SBA-15 (COOH/SBA-15) could still be kept even though the content of carboxyl groups was up to 57.2%. Increasing carboxyl content could effectively enhance the loading capacity of Famo. Compared with pure SBA-15, into which Famo could be hardly adsorbed, the largest drug loading capacity of COOH/SBA-15 could achieve 396.9 mg/g. The release of Famo from mesoporous silica was studied in simulated intestine fluid (SIF, pH=7.4). For COOH/SBA-15, the release rate of Famo decreased with narrowing pore size. After grafting TMS groups on the surface of COOH/SBA-15 with hexamethyldisilazane, the release of Famo was greatly delayed with the increasing content of TMS groups.     

Interaction of albumin with polysaccharides containing ionic groups

It is very important to clarify the mechanisms of the interaction between components of organisms. In this report, the interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ionic polysaccharides were discussed. The fluorescence spectrum of tryptophan (Trp) in BSA changed as its conformation changed. On adding polysaccharide containing sulfonic acid residues (sulfonic‐type) at pH 7.4, a remarkable blue shift of the emission maximum (λ_em) of Trp was observed. This blue shift was decreased by adding NaCl. In contrast, polysaccharide containing carboxylic acid residues (carboxy‐type) scarcely changed Trp fluorescence at the same pH. At a pH lower than the isoelectric point (PI = 4.7–4.9) of BSA, a remarkable blue shift was observed not only by adding sulfonic‐type polysaccharide but also by adding carboxy‐type polysaccharide. Moreover, using the energy transfer method, in the pH region higher than the PI of BSA, carboxylic‐type polysaccharides may interact relatively weakly with the binding site II of BSA, but sulfonic‐type ones can selectively interact with binding site I weakly and with binding site II strongly. And in the pH region lower than the PI of BSA, carboxylic‐type polysaccharides interact with binding site II strongly. On the other hand, sulfonic‐type polysaccharides are bound to both binding site I and binding site II very strongly. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monomers and polymers with silicon-containing functional groups

The novel monomer, p-vinylphenoxy(trimethyl)silane, has been prepared and copolymerized with styrene. The hydrolysis of the copolymer in dioxan has been examined briefly. Monomers of the type p-CH₂CHC₆H₄SiMe₂R (RH, OMe, OEt, OPr, CH₂Cl and NMc₂) have been prepared, polymerized and the resulting polymers cross-linked by hydrolysis.     

Organically substituted titanium alkoxides with unsaturated organic groups

Modified transition metal alkoxides with polymerizable organic ligands were synthesized which are worthwhile precursors for the development of novel inorganic-organic materials. Titanium tetraisopropoxide was treated with isoeugenol (2-methoxy-4-propenylphenol), itaconic anhydride (methylene succinic anhydride), and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid, respectively. Isoeugenol forms a chelate complex with titanium via the phenolic OH group and the oxygen of the methoxy substituent. The reaction products of the cyclic itaconic anhydride with titanium alkoxide were two isomers due to different paths of ring opening; the reaction proceeded without the formation of an alcohol. 2-Acrylamido-2-methyl-propanesulfonic acid formed a link to titanium via the SO₃ group, and after hydrolysis the sol consisted of rather small particles.     

Controlled release of amoxicillin from bacterial cellulose membranes

Bacterial cellulose (BC), a natural polymer with unique physical and mechanical properties, has several applications in the biomedical field, including drug loading and controlled drug delivery. For this study, a Box-Behnken experimental design was employed as a statistical tool to optimize the release of a model drug, amoxicillin, from BC membranes. Independent variables studied were the concentration of the drug (X₁), the concentration of glycerol (X₂) and the concentration of a permeation enhancer (X₃). From the variables studied, drug concentration had the highest effect on drug release. Among the other independent variables, th linear and quadratic X₂ terms, the linear X₃ term and the interaction term X₂X₃ were found to affect the release of amoxicillin from bacterial cellulose membranes.

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Protein release behavior from porous microparticle with lysozyme/hyaluronate ionic complex

Porous microparticles (PMs) with a low density (<0.4 g/cm3) for pulmonary protein delivery were prepared by the water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) multi-emulsion method using a cyclodextrin derivative as a porogen. The complexation of positively charged lysozyme (Lys) and negative-charged hyaluronate (HA) was investigated for long-term protein release from PMs. The interaction of Lys and HA not only increased protein encapsulation efficiency but also stabilized Lys against a denaturing organic solvent (dichloromethane). Furthermore, PMs with Lys/HA complexes increased the Lys release period up to 7 days, as opposed to a 4h Lys release time from PMs without Lys/HA complexes. In particular, PMs containing 10mg of HA and 50mg of Lys showed almost zero-order Lys release kinetic for 7 days and preserved the bioactivity of Lys more than 98% during its entire release period. This result suggests that PMs with Lys/HA complexes may be applied in long-term pulmonary administration of protein or peptide drugs, including those that require particles to arrive at a deep lung epithelium with the help of low density (high porosity) of PMs.     

Miscibility of methacrylic polymers with different pendant groups

Miscibility is not always common in blends of homologous polymers that differ in structure but possess the same functional groups. In this study, two methacrylate polymers, which differ by a methylene unit, were found to be miscible in accordance with morphology and thermal transition criteria of polymer miscibility. Miscibility of the pair poly(phenyl methacrylate) and poly‐(benzyl methacrylate) is quite unusual. Interactions between carbonyl units and phenyl rings of these two polymers are discussed. FT‐IR results indicate an intimate mixing state between these two polymers leading to mutual influence in the absorbance wavenumbers for C=O, ether groups and, possibly, phenyl rings.     

阳离子取代基对离子液体气相色谱固定相保留性能的影响

以双-三氟甲烷磺酰亚胺离子（［NTf₂］^-）、三氟甲基磺酸根离子（［TFO］^-）和六氟磷酸根离子（［PF₆］^-）为阴离子,合成了含有丙基、丁基、壬基、乙苯基或氰甲基等阳离子取代基的聚合乙烯基咪唑基离子液体固定相,制备了13种离子液体石英毛细管色谱柱。考察了离子液体固定相结构与色谱柱McReynolds常数、热稳定性和测试化合物保留行为之间的构效关系,研究了阳离子取代基对固定相保留性能的影响规律;同时考察了测试化合物保留指数随温度变化的规律。结果表明,所合成的离子液体固定相具有较强的极性,其保留性能不仅与阳离子取代基的性质密切相关,而且受取代基结构和阴离子影响明显;在考察的温度范围内,测试化合物的保留指数变化规律与传统色谱固定相完全相同。