Preparation of a new molecularly imprinted polymer based on self‐crosslinkable cellulose acrylate in aqueous solution: A drug delivery system for furosemide

In the present study, a new, green, and biodegradable molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on modified cellulose is introduced for the drug furosemide. First, microcrystalline cellulose was converted into cellulose acrylate (CA). Then the prepared CA underwent self‐crosslinking in the drug preassembly solution. The preassembly solution of the drug was also prepared using furosemide as the template molecule and acrylamide as the functional monomer in an aqueous medium. The results obtained from the binding and selectivity studies indicate the successful preparation of the CA‐based MIP (CA‐MIP) in aqueous solution. In the final step, an in vitro release study of furosemide from the synthesized polymers was carried out in a pH = 7.41 phosphate‐buffered saline solution at 37 °C. The drug release profiles showed that the release rate of the CA‐MIP is more controlled than that of the corresponding nonimprinted polymer, especially at the early stages of release. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45581.