Theophylline molecularly imprinted polymer dissociation kinetics: a novel sustained release drug dosage mechanism.

The template release kinetics of theophylline molecularly imprinted polymers has been examined with a view to determining their potential as a controlled release drug dosage form. The basis for the ligand selectivity of these polymers has been shown through the demonstration of pre-polymerization template-monomer complexation and HPLC studies of the product polymer ligand selectivities. The release kinetics shows a dependence upon template loading and pH. Small differences in release characteristics between imprinted and non-imprinted (reference) polymers have been observed.