Sustained‐release ibuprofen prodrug particle: Emulsifier and initiator regulate the diameter and distribution.

Polymers have played a vital part in the development of drug delivery systems (DDS). For DDS, having a controllable diameter and distribution are conducive to reproducibility of drug release behavior and efficacy. In this work, an ibuprofen prodrug (Ibu@PMMA) was synthesized by methyl methacrylate (MMA), ibuprofen monomer (Ibu@HEMA), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) via emulsion polymerization. The Ibu@PMMA exhibits spherical shapes, and its structural properties were characterized by NMR, FTIR, and SEM techniques. In addition, the hydrodynamic diameter and polydispersity index (PDI) of Ibu@PMMA were reduced by increasing the proportion of emulsifier. Meanwhile, by increasing the amount of initiator, the hydrodynamic diameter and PDI of Ibu@PMMA were decreased. Moreover, Ibu@PMMA exhibits good sustained‐release ability in vitro, which could be used as a potential delivery system for anti‐inflammatory agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]