Interactions of quinine with polyacrylic and poly-L-glutamic acids in aqueous solutions

Drug-loaded polymers provide an attractive form for controlled drug delivery systems. A proper knowledge of polymer–drug interactions can aid in the designing of polymers for various drug-delivery applications. In this paper we have investigated the interaction of a drug such as quinine, with synthetic macromolecules such as poly(acrylic acid), PAA, and poly(L-glutamic acid), PGA, at pH 7 and 37 °C by fluorescence spectroscopy and viscometry. The analysis of the binding isotherms revealed that the association process is positive cooperative up to a threshold concentration and then it is negative. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters vary along the isotherm. Results also suggest that there is an optimum polymer to quinine ratio. Based on the viscometry results a mechanism of the interaction in which the polymer conformation plays a determinant role is proposed. Since the conformation depends on the molecular size, the architecture of the macromolecule, the effective charge and ergo the ionic strength, all these variables have been taken into account and their effect on the binding discussed.