Adsorption of drugs onto a pH responsive poly(N,N-dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) grafted anion-exchange membrane in vitro

The influence of charge and lipophilicity of acidic and basic model drugs on their adsorption onto poly(N,N-dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylic acid) grafted poly(vinylidene fluoride) (DMAEMA–PVDF) membranes was evaluated. The effect of serum proteins (albumin, IgG) and hormones (cortisol, free thyroxine (T4F) and thyrotropin (TSH)) on drug adsorption was also studied. Acidic model drugs (antiepileptics and benzodiazepies) adsorbed to a greater extent onto the membrane from Hepes buffer at ionic strength of 25 mM and pH 7.0 than basic drugs (antidepressants) did. Adsorption of acidic model drugs was based on electrostatic interactions between positively charged tertiary amino groups of DMAEMA side-chain and acidic negatively charged drug. Albumin diminished the adsorption of drugs from serum onto the membrane. Lipophilicity was related to the adsorption of acidic model drugs from serum onto the membrane. The degree of grafting had the greatest effect on adsorption of lipophilic drugs, but no influence was observed on adsorption of hydrophilic drugs. The present results showed that acidic drugs and albumin adsorbed onto the membrane, which suggests that the PVDF–DMAEMA membrane may be suitable for separating acidic drugs from protein-free substances for subsequent monitoring and evaluation.