Synthesis of Alginate-Graft-Poly(benzyl methacrylate) Copolymer by Chemical and UV Initiation

The subject of this thesis is to synthesize alginate-graft-poly(benzyl methacrylate) copolymer by two different approaches including chemical and UV initiation. The pros and cons of the grafting methods were examined by evaluating benzyl methacrylate: alginate ratio, type and amount of initiator, reaction duration and type of solvent on grafting yield. Grafting percentage was calculated gravimetrically. The highest grafting yield was obtained as 32.1% by UV initiation under 0.1g beads, 0.5 mL BMA with 2.5g 2.2-Dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA) and 2.5mL hexane. The dissolution properties tested in buffer media of pH 1.2, 7 and 11. Ciprofloxacin loading in water and release studies were performed in water and acidic media (pH 1.2). The ciprofloxacin release kinetics was investigated with four different models. The release kinetics in water is dependent on the diffusion rate as such fits into the Higuchi’s Model while that for the acidic media fitted best for the Korsmeryer-Peppas Model. In-vitro antibacterial activity of the products was examined. Grafted beads exhibited antibacterial activity however non-grafted beads did not show any inhibition. Keywords: Alginate beads, Benzylmethacrylate, UV initiation, Antibacterial activity.