Novel mucoadhesive polymer prepared by template polymerization of acrylic acid in the presence of silk sericin

A novel mucoadhesive polymer was prepared by template polymerization of acr ylic acid in the presence of sericin for a transmucosal drug-delivery (TMD) system. FTIR results indicated that a polymer complex was formed between p oly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and sericin through hydrogen bonding. The glass tra nsition temperatures (T-g's) of sericin and PAA in the PAA/sericin polymer complex were inner-shifted compared with the T-g's of sericin and PAA thems elves. This may be due to the increased miscibility of PAA with sericin thr ough hydrogen bonding. The dissolution rate of the PAA/sericin interpolymer complex was dependent on the pH. The mucoadhesive force of the PAA/sericin polymer complex was similar to that of a commercial product, Carbopol 971P NF. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.