Substituted polyvinylalcohol as a drug carrier for β-carotene

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro characteristics of polyvinylalcohol 10,000 (PVA10,000) and polyvinylalcohol 15,000 (PVA15,000) substituted with different alkyl chains (Iodododecane, Bromotetradecane) and crosslinked with Bis-chloro-ethoxy-ethane as an injectable drug carrier. β-carotene was used as a lipophilic model drug. Physical mixtures of the drug and the spray-dried polymers were prepared and the release of the drug from the mixtures was evaluated in vitro at pH 7.4. The results indicated that the substituted PVA10,000 and PVA15,000 provided faster drug release with respect to the pure drug at pH 7.4. In particular, among the substituted PVA used, PVA10,000 and PVA15,000 substituted with Iodododecane and crosslinked with Bis-chloro-ethoxy-ethane improved drug release. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.