Synthesis and characterization of new cross-linked terpolymer systems containing silyl group

Abstract

A series of acrylic terpolymers containing silyl pendant groups was prepared by free radical cross-linking copolymerization. Me3Si, Et3Si and t-BuMe2Si together with cubane-1, 4-dicarboxylic acid (CDA) were covalently linked with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The silyl-linked HEMA are abbreviated as TMSiEMA, TESiEMA and TBSiEMA respectively. Cubane-1, 4-dicarboxylic acid (CDA) linked to two HEMA group is the cross-linking agent (CA). Free radical cross-linking terpolymerization of the methyl methacrylate (MMA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) with two different molar ratios of organosilyl monomers and CA was carried out at 60–70 ∘C. The compositions of the cross-linked three-dimensional polymers were determined by FT-IR spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of the network polymers was determined calorimetrically. The Tg of network terpolymers increases with increasing of cross-linking degree. Equilibrium swelling studies were carried out in enzyme-free simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF and SIF, respectively). The gels swelled more in SIF than in SGF. The swelling behaviour of the copolymers was dependent on the content of MAA groups and caused a decrease in gel swelling in pH 1 or an increase in gel swelling in pH 7.4. Based on the great difference in swelling ratio at pH 1 and 7.4 for P-1, P-6 and P-10 appear to be good candidates for colon-specific drug delivery.