U.S.-Italy Cooperative Research: Swellable Controlled Release Polymeric Systems With or Without Dissolution

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This award will support Professor Nikolaos Peppas of Purdue University in a research collaboration with Professor Paolo Colombo of the University of Parma, Italy. The researchers intend to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the transport and release of water soluble peptides from non- porous, hydrophilic polymers. Polymer/peptide systems to be investigated include uncrosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and various polymethacrylates. Diffusion and release studies will be performed with calcitonin, trazodone, diclofenac, diltiazem and prazosin. Controlled release systems of the swelling type are a promising new class of polymeric systems for release of drugs and biomolecules. Although their capability to release small molecules at constant rates has been proven through previous studies, no study has been done yet for the release of high molecular weight (75,000) macromolecules. Obvious applications of this research will be in the area of release of genetically engineered molecules in target areas. The proposed work will provide an important understanding of the coupled phenomena of diffusion/swelling/dissolution and will offer guidelines for the development of better controlled release systems.