Synthesis of hyper-crosslinked porous polymers for drug release

This study aimed to synthesize drug-loaded hyper-crosslinked porous polymers (HCPs) under high-temperature, anhydrous, oxygen-free conditions through a Friedel-Crafts reaction. The resulting hyper-crosslinked porous polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption porosity measurements, thermogravimetric analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction for HCPs, and the electrochemical properties were investigated. The specific surface areas of the hyper-crosslinked porous polymers reached as high as 1079 m2g-1. We next investigated the use of one of the HCP samples as a drug delivery system and demonstrated its ability to release the model drug ibuprofen. Under selected synthesis conditions, the loading efficiency of the HCP with ibuprofen was 35 % (w/w). The release of the drug was also monitored, and 88 % of the loaded drug was released within 12 h. The resulting hyper-crosslinked porous polymer can be used as a matrix for the in vitro loading of ibuprofen.