Title:QbD Assisted Optimization of Microwave-assisted Synthesis of
Polyacrylamide Grafted Tragacanth: Characterization and Instrumental
Analysis
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Author(s): Mahesh Namballa*, Anilkumar Adimulapu and Rajesh E Jesudasan
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Assam Kaziranga University Koraikhowa, NH-37, Jorhat, 785006, Assam, India
Keywords:
Tragacanth, microwave assisted synthesis, grafting, optimization, polyacrylamide, (PAM)-based flocculants.
Abstract:
Background: Polysaccharides have recently attracted a lot of attention in the designing of
drug delivery systems due to their wide availability, lack of toxicity, and numerous ways that their
nature, structure, and functionality can be altered.
Methods: Microwave-assisted synthesis of graft copolymer of tragacanth (TRA) is done with polyacrylamide
(PAM) by free radical polymerization using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as initiator.
Grafting polymer concentration, CAN concentration, and exposure time were selected as independent
variables, and their effect is studied for Grafting Efficiency (GE) and Intrinsic viscosity (IV) using Box-
Behnken optimization design.
Results: A quadratic model was suggested by the software for further statistical evaluation. On the basis
of the desirability approach, optimized parameters for microwave-assisted synthesis were demonstrated,
and further grafted TRA (Gr-TRA) was synthesized. Gr-TRA was studied for various characterization
and elemental analysis. Gr-TRA showed the highest swelling index and least weight loss
during the chemical resistance test. Further instrumental analyses like FTIR, XRD, and elemental analysis
confirmed the formation of Gr-TRA.
Conclusion: Based on all of the above findings, the synthesis of PAM-grafted TRA has been optimized
and could be used as a new pharmaceutical excipient in designing different dosage forms.