SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF NEW LINEAR AZO-POLYMERS FOR COLONIC TARGETING

Copolymers of 4-[4-[(6-hydroxyhexyl)oxy]phenylazo] benzoic acid and 16 -hydroxyhexadecanoic acid were prepared by polycondensation and evalua ted as materials for colonic targeting. The in vitro degradation of th e azo-polymers was performed in sonicated rat coecal content (cell-fre e extract) containing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, glu cose-6-phosphate, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and benzyl violog en as the redox mediator. The degradation of the azo-polymers was exam ined using UV absorption spectrometry and solution viscosimetry. The r esults of this study clearly demonstrate that the polymers can be degr aded by rat bacterial azo-reductase to polymers with lower molecular w eight, and may offer opportunities to develop colon-specific drug deli very systems.