@article {daSilva2011150,
	title = {Development of molecularly imprinted co-polymeric devices for controlled delivery of flufenamic acid using supercritical fluid technology},
	journal = {The Journal of Supercritical Fluids},
	volume = {58},
	number = {1},
	year = {2011},
	note = {n/a},
	pages = {150 - 157},
	abstract = {<p>This work reports the development of a novel class of affinity co-polymeric materials using supercritical fluid technology. Polymeric materials with molecular recognition to flufenamic acid, were first synthesized in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) using the drug as template. Molecularly imprinted co-polymers of methacrylic acid (MAA) or N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAAm) crosslinked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) were synthesized using different crosslinking degrees and template:monomer ratios, at 65\&$\#$xa0;{\textdegree}C and 21\&$\#$xa0;MPa. High-pressure \{NMR\} experiments confirmed that the nature of the interactions between the drug and the functional monomers during the polymerization step are mainly hydrogen bonds. scCO2-assisted impregnation revealed that the imprinted matrices were able to uptake higher amounts of flufenamic acid. This effect was particularly evidenced in the more crosslinked matrices, with P(MAA{\textendash}EGDMA) imprinted copolymers binding up to 101.5\&$\#$xa0;mg drug/g polymer against only 50.5\&$\#$xa0;mg/g in the non-imprinted copolymer. In vitro drug delivery experiments showed that imprinted co-polymers release the drug in a more sustained way than the corresponding non-imprinted matrices. Overall it was shown that supercritical fluid technology is a viable approach for the development of self-assembly molecular recognition polymers with potential application in controlled drug delivery systems.</p>
},
	keywords = {Crosslinking},
	issn = {0896-8446},
	doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.supflu.2011.05.010},
	url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0896844611001872},
	author = {Mara Soares da Silva and Franklin L. Nobrega and Aguiar-Ricardo, Ana and Cabrita, Eurico J. and Casimiro, Teresa}
}
