Polymer drug delivery case questions? You have developed two different types of
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Question
Polymer drug delivery case questions?
You have developed two different types of co-polymers using Poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide): polymer-A and polymer-B for temperature-responsive drug delivery system. The lower critical solution temperatures of polymer-A and polymer-B are 25 degree C and 50 degree C, respectively. A therapeutic drug was successfully incorporated into both the polymers-A and B. You have provided the polymer-A to a surgeon for implanting it in a patient. As a standard procedure in the hospital, the surgeon immersed the polymer in a sterile saline solution at 37 degree C for an hour before implanting it in a patient. Please comment on how the polymer-A will behave in patient's body for delivering the drug. You have provided the polymer-B to a surgeon for implanting it in a patient. The surgeon has successfully implanted the polymer-B in patient's body. Please comment on how the polymer-B will behave in patient's body for delivering the drug.Explanation / Answer
Lower critical solution temperature (LCST) is the one below which the molecules are soluble in water, and which they deform and become insoluble in water.
Case I: In this case, the LCST of polymer A is below the body temperature means it becomes deformed in tissue with temperatures above 25 degrees. So it can release the drug to the regions where the temperature is low.
Case II: In this case, the LCST of polymer B is above the body temperature, means it does not become deformed unless the tissue temperature reaches above 50 degree centigrade (may be by means of some external heat source). So it can release the drug to the regions where the temperature is high.