Copolymers of acrylic acid with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate as carriers of two tuberculostatics: Synthesis, properties in solutions, drug release

Polymeric carrier for combination therapy of tuberculosis, namely low molecular weight reactive copolymer of acrylic acid with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (AA-co-2-HEMA) with two types of functional groups along the chain has been synthesized. Characteristic features of radical copolymerization were studied and the relationships between the synthesis conditions and the composition, microstructure, and molecular characteristics of the copolymers were established, that is of fundamental interest. The behavior of copolymer macromolecules in aqueous salt solutions was analyzed. A tuberculostatically active derivative of AA-co-2-HEMA containing the amikacin antibiotic and the monofluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin was synthesized. The target multiunit copolymer containing two tuberculostatics with different effect against tuberculosis mycobacterium exhibits high anti-tuberculosis activity. It is characterized by a gradual release of the drugs from the polymer form and is very promising for use in combination therapy of tuberculosis.