Precipitation Polymerization-Based Molecularly Imprinted Polymers: A Novel Approach for Transdermal Curcumin Delivery

This research describes the synthesis and characterization of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) as a candidate for the transdermal delivery of curcumin. The MIP was synthesized through precipitation polymerization using methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linking agent. MIP characterization studies were conducted using SEM-EDX and FTIR spectroscopy to determine the morphology and interaction between curcumin and polymers. The MIP obtained through precipitation polymerization was in the form of a fine powder with a surface morphology resembling a collection of small granules with a uniform shape. The adsorption capacity of the MIP follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, with a maximum capacity of 4.239 mg/g, which is greater than that of the NIP (3.219 mg/g), resulting in an imprinting efficiency of 1.317. The percentage of curcumin released from the MIP after 8 h was 41.26%, which is lower than that from the NIP, at 51.50%. The drug release kinetics study follows the Higuchi model, indicating drug diffusion from the polymer matrix. Imprinting on the MIP can modify drug diffusion from the polymer matrix, resulting in a reduced release rate in the MIP. Therefore, the MIP can be considered a candidate for the controlled transdermal delivery of curcumin.