Propranolol HCl imprinted polymeric microspheres: Development, characterization and dissolution

Abstract

Specificity to target molecule, high selectivity and sensitivity to release and targeting were achieved using molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) systems. In this study, propranolol HCl (PHCL) imprinted methacryloylamidohistidine-Co/ PHCL (MAH-Co/PHCL) microspheres were prepared by suspension polymerization. Differences in pH, concentration and time are very important parameters in determining the adsorption capacity of the imprinted microspheres. In the adsorption studies, propranolol HCL was desorbed first from imprinted microspheres using 40% methanolic potassium hydroxide solution. Following the determination of appropriate pH and concentration values for adsorption of PHCL onto imprinted microspheres, time to reach adsorption equilibrium and maximum adsorption values were calculated. In vitro dissolution of imprinted microspheres was compared to that of pure drug and its commercial tablet. In the in vitro dissolution studies, flow-through-cell method defined in USP XXIV was used with UV spectrophotometric quantification method. Comparing the dissolution test results, it was found that PHCL imprinted microspheres released the active agent in a prolonged pattern.