The single fluoroalkyl terminated polyethylene glycol grafted polyacrylic acid (Rf-PEG-g-PAA) tri-block copolymer was synthesized as a mucosal binder for a double fluoroalkyl terminated polyethylene glycol (Rf-PEG-Rf) hydrogel. The Rf-PEG-Rf hydrogels have a sol-gel two-phase coexistence character. However, they lack mucoadhesive properties. Because PAA-based polymers are known having mucoadhesive applications, integration of the Rf-PEG-PAA into the Rf-PEG-Rf hydrogel resulted in the mucoadhesive cohydrogel system. Different mass percentages of Rf-PEG-g-PAA in the cohydrogel (0%, 5%,7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, and 20%) in different pH conditions were prepared, and the detachment forces with mucus surface were observed. In addition, the rheological measurements for the cohydrogel mixed mucin were also done. The experimental results demonstrated that the Rf-PEG-g-PAA/Rf-PEG-Rf cohydrogel system possesses the mucoadhesive property. The maximum detachment force increased with the increased amount of Rf-PEG-g-PAA in the cohydrogel system. Furthermore, it was found that the mucoadhesion is pH dependent. We believe that the Rf-PEG-PAA/Rf-PEG-Rf cohydrogel system can be further developed as a mucoadhesive drug delivery depot for controlled drug release applications.

Interaction of Rf-PEG-Rf/Rf-PEG-g-PAA co-hydrogel system with mucus

256th National Meeting (2018)

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