Synthesis and characterization of a novel molecularly imprinted polymer for the controlled release of rivastigmine tartrate

Highlights: • Novel imprinted poly (methacrylic acid) nanoparticles for the controlled release of RVS were developed. • Samples were synthesized by permuting different concentrations of PETA or TMPTA as cross-linkers. • The in-vitro release of RVS from MIP2 samples showed that the prepared sample had a controlled and sustained release. • The prepared MIPs are potential candidates for RVS drug delivery to alleviate Alzheimer's and other diseases. To develop novel imprinted poly (methacrylic acid) nanoparticles for the controlled release of Rivastigmine Tartrate (RVS), the amalgamation of molecular imprinting techniques and polymerization of precipitates were applied in this work. By permuting different concentrations of pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) or trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) as cross-linkers, ten different samples were synthesized, and their abilities assessed for RVS absorption. Among them, uniform mono-disperse nanoparticles were synthesized in an RVS/PMAA/PETA mole ratio of 1:6:12, named molecularly imprinted polymers 2 (MIP2), which showed the highest RVS absorption. Analytical procedures involving the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Thermogeometric analysis (TGA), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), and absorption/desorption porosimetry (BET) measurements were applied to characterize the morphology and physicochemical properties of the MIP2. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the MIP2 sample was measured by MTT assay on an L929 cell line. Studies pertaining to the in-vitro release of RVS from MIP2 samples showed that the prepared sample had a controlled and sustained release compared, which differed from the results obtained from the non-imprinted polymer (NIP) with the same formulization. Results obtained further reinforced the feasibility of prepared MIPs as a prime candidature for RVS drug delivery to alleviate Alzheimer's and other diseases.