Mucoadhesive drug carrier based on interpolymer complex of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and poly(acrylic acid) prepared by template polymerization.

To develop a new mucoadhesive drug carrier, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) interpolymer complexes were prepared by the template polymerization of acrylic acid using PVP as a template polymer. Fourier transform infrared results showed that the interpolymer complexes were formed by hydrogen bonds between the carboxyl groups of PAA and the carbonyl groups of PVP. The adhesive forces of the PVP/PAA interpolymer complexes were higher than that of commercial Carbopol 971. Moreover, the adhesive force and the release rate can be controlled by changing the mole ratios of PVP and PAA. The release rates of ketoprofen from the PVP/PAA interpolymer complexes showed pH-dependency, and were slower at lower pH. The release rate of ketoprofen from the complex seemed to be mainly controlled by the dissolution rate of the complex above a pK(a) of PAA (4.75) and by the diffusion rate below the pK(a). The prepared complex appears to be an adequate carrier for the mucoadhesive drug delivery system.