초록 |
Drug Delivery System (DDS) has been developed as an ideal technology that effectively delivers drugs to desired targets and increases efficacy. Hydrogels are often used as effective carriers for controlling drug delivery, since it can be molded to design drug release for a specified time period. Hydrogels formed by interactions between drug (gelator) and polymer could improve the bioavailability or stability of drugs. In this study, a novel gelation system was discovered during a drowning-out crystallization of atorvastatin (a cholesterol-lowering medication) in presence of poly(acrylic acid). The crystallization of atorvastatin was significantly inhibited by poly(acrylic acid), and after crystallization, the entire mixture became hydrogels. The size of drug particles inside hydrogels were a few tens of microns. In a gel state, the elastic modulus (G′) was higher than the viscous modulus (G″), and the elastic modulus (G′) was more than 1 kPa. This novel hydrogel system could offer a new formulation opportunity of atorvastatin in future. |