Synthesis and microbial degradation of azopolymers for possible applications for colon specific drug delivery I

Abstract

For the purpose of colonic drug targeting, poly(ester) and poly(amide) azopolymers were synthesized and characterized. The polymers were based on azobenzene-4, 4{minus 45 degree rule}-dicarboxylic acid. It was polycondensated either with specific diamines to yield polyamides or with specific diols to yield polyesters. The polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analyses, 1H NMR and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The molecular weights were measured by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). The synthesized polymers showed a good film forming. Degradation of poly azobenzene diacid-co-ethlene glycol 4000 and polyazo benzene diacid-co-jeffamine 4000 as azopolymer by microorganisms was investigated and the results demonstrated that Aspergillus fungi have produced almost the highest value, however, Ganoderma resencium and Pleurotus ostreatus came in the last rank. The highest poly azobenzene diacid-co-jeffamine 4000 degradation rate constant (μmol/ml/h) was performed by Aspergillus fumigatus which produced 5.73 ± 0.23 μmol/ml/h at 228 nm; whereas Aspergillus ochraceous produced the lowest poly azobenzene diacid-co-jeffamine 4000 degradation rate constant of 0.94 ± 0.72 μmol/ml/h at 332 nm. © 2011 King Saud University.