Synthesis and Characterization of Macroporous Poly(Acrylamide-Methacrylic Acid) Cryogel and its Interaction with Clarithromycin

Abstract

In this study, macroporous poly(acrylamide/methacrylic acid - PAM) polymers have been prepared and characterized. Swelling characteristics of PAM cryogels and the percentage of macroporosity have been examined. Their macroporosity has been calculated as 51.5% at 120% swelling. The surface and bulk structure of PAM cryogel was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM). From SEM images, it has been observed that synthesized cryogels have interconnected macropores with 10-100 mu m diameters. Drug adsortion of clarithromycin from PAM cryogels was analyzed using Fickian equation. In all adsortion experiments, adsorption exponent "n", which is determining the resulting drug adsorption mechanisms, was found to be between 0.5 and 1. This value shows that the system controlling clarithromycin adsorption from PAM cryogels' membranes is a mixture of swelling and diffusion controlled adsorption. As a result, it has been concluded that PAM cryogels of clarithromycin are suitable for drug adsorption control.