Development of molecularly imprinted polymer as sustain release drug carrier for propranolol HCL

Applications of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIPs), is rapidly increasing, especially in the drug delivery field. Molecularly imprinted polymers are the molecular traps, which can entrap the specific molecule and also control its release. Polymer complexes were prepared with and without propranolol HCl as templates, MAA (methacrylic acid) as monomer and EGDMA (ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate) as crosslinker by solvent polymerization technique. Drug release pattern from these polymer complexes were compared and maximum drug release in 12 h was consider to optimize the ratio of MAA and EGDMA. Since, the maximum propranolol HCl release from polymer complex was low (62.15%) in optimized batch, inclusion complex of drug with β-cyclodextrin were prepared for the higher drug release (80.32%). The selected polymer complexes were treated with methanol for complete removal of the drug to form MIPs. These MIPs were reloaded with the drug and subjected for drug release. The release patterns from reloaded MIP's were observed to be slightly quicker than their corresponding MIP's.