APPLICATION OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL QUARTZ-CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE FOR ELECTROCHEMICALLY CONTROLLED BINDING AND RELEASE OF CHLORPROMAZINE FROM CONDUCTIVE POLYMER MATRIX

A new methodology has been applied to drug release studies. A conducti ve polymer film was used as a matrix for drug incorporation. The chara cterization of the polymer films has been obtained by in situ monitori ng of the mass change by a quartz crystal microbalance in conjunction with cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalan ce (EQCM) with its excellent sensitivity allowed direct measurement of the amount of the drug released when the potential of the film was ch anged. New information on ion dynamics under the in situ conditions wa s obtained. The release of a neuroleptic drug, chlorpromazine (CPZ), f rom a composite polypyrrole/melanin film upon electrical stimulation h as been studied. (C) 1997 Academic Press.