Sustained-release ibuprofen prodrug particle: Emulsifier and initiator regulate the diameter and distribution

Polymers have played a vital part in the development of drug delivery systems (DDS). For DDS, having a controllable diameter and distribution are conducive to reproducibility of drug release behavior and efficacy. In this work, an ibuprofen prodrug (Ibu@PMMA) was synthesized by methyl methacrylate (MMA), ibuprofen monomer (Ibu@HEMA), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) via emulsion polymerization. The Ibu@PMMA exhibits spherical shapes, and its structural properties were characterized by NMR, FTIR, and SEM techniques. In addition, the hydrodynamic diameter and polydispersity index (PDI) of Ibu@PMMA were reduced by increasing the proportion of emulsifier. Meanwhile, by increasing the amount of initiator, the hydrodynamic diameter and PDI of Ibu@PMMA were decreased. Moreover, Ibu@PMMA exhibits good sustained-release abilityin vitro, which could be used as a potential delivery system for anti-inflammatory agents.

Automated summary

In this study, an ibuprofen prodrug was synthesized using emulsion polymerization method, and the impact of different parameters on its structure and release performance was investigated. Results showed that the hydrodynamic diameter and distribution of the prodrug can be effectively controlled by adjusting the emulsifier proportion and initiator amount. The prodrug exhibited good sustained-release ability in vitro, making it a potential drug delivery system for anti-inflammatory agents.