Spherical molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs) via a novel precipitation polymerization in the controlled delivery of sulfasalazine.

Spherical molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs) have been prepared via a novel precipitation polymerization using sulfasalazine (prodrug used in the diseases of the colon) as template. The sulfasalazine was incorporated into SMIPs and into a spherical non-imprinted polymer (control), and then the release rate of the bioactive agent at different pH values was evaluated. Considerable differences in the release characteristics between imprinted and non-imprinted polymers have been observed. This opens the possibility of the development of drug release systems capable of modulating the release of a specific molecule. Photomicrography of spherical molecularly imprinted polymers (SMIPs).