Mucus-responsive functionalized emulsions: design, synthesis and study of novel branched polymers as functional emulsifiers.

ABSTRACT: Mucus lines the moist cavities throughout the body, acting as barrier by protecting the underlying cells against the external environment, but it also hinders the permeation of drugs and drug delivery systems. As the rate of diffusion is low, the development of a system which could increase retention time at the mucosal surface would prove beneficial. Here, we have designed a range of branched copolymers to act as functional mucus-responsive oil-in-water emulsifiers comprising the hydrophilic monomer oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate and a hydrophobic dodecyl initiator. The study aimed to investigate the importance of chain end functionality on successful emulsion formation, by systematically replacing a fraction of the hydrophobic chain ends with a secondary poly(ethylene glycol) based

SUBMITTER: Edwards SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9056332 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature