IBUPROFEN RELEASE FROM HYDROPHILIC CERAMIC-POLYMER COMPOSITES

Two composite systems composed of alpha-Al2O3/poly(methyl methacrylate ) (PMMA)/poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)/ibuprofen or alpha-Al2O3/PMMA/c o-vinyl pyrrolidone-methyl methacrylate/ibuprofen were prepared by fre e radical polymerization. These systems were characterized by spectros copic techniques and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analys es. The hydration behaviour of composites with different hydrophilic c haracters was analysed after the immersion of the composites in buffer ed solution at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. The swelling of the composites depends strongly on the content of the hydrophilic component and is c ontrolled by the presence of the ceramic component. The release of the anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, from the composites in buffered so lution was followed by UV spectroscopy and the results obtained indica ted that the components of the composites influenced the rate of relea se of the drug, without the classical 'burst' effect observed frequent ly with hydrophilic systems. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Limited. All ri ghts reserved.