Characterization of the semi-interpenetrated network based on collagen and poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-diethylene glycol diacrylate)

Abstract

The study is devoted to the characterization of the semi-interpenetrating polymeric network (semi-IPN) structures, prepared as dual sensitive networks, based on poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide-co-diethylene glycol diacrylate) inserted into a collagen porous membrane with potential biomedical-applications. The pharmaceutical applications are related to the possibility of using the semi-synthetic networks for inclusion, retention, transportation and release of drug molecules. The insertion and the homogeneity distribution of the drug into the polymeric network were evaluated by near infrared-chemical imaging (NIR-CI) technique. The drug release was investigated from the kinetically viewpoint in simulated biological environment by using UV-vis spectrophotometric technique. The zeta potential measurement results showed meaningful change of the electric potential of the network surface at the interfacial double layer with the environment in the interdependence with the network composition and environment characteristics. The biodegradable character of the semi-synthetic network, also presented, undergoes with tissue engineering request for achievement of tissue substituents. Texture analysis of the semi-IPN was realized in order to evidence the potential applications of the prepared compounds in tissue engineering. The adhesion properties reveal the possibility to control the surface adhesion by: network composition, the ratio between the polymer types, and the crosslinking degree of polymeric networks. The evaluation of the semi-IPN characteristics in medical terms, concerned the surface electrical charge, the loading, retention and release properties of an active compound, the adhesion properties and the effect of collagenase enzyme over the collagen fibres as component in semi-IPN, and from the pharmaceutical terms emphasizes the potential applications of the new polymeric semi-IPN networks.