Abstract

A REVIEW ON INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORK (IPN)

Dhyani Archana, Gaur Manisha* and Juyal Divya

ABSTRACT

Multicomponent drug delivery systems have found several potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Among various investigations, the interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) have attracted much attention. It is a combination of at least two polymer chains each in network form, of which at least one is synthesized and/or cross linked in the immediate presence of the other without any covalent bonds between them. The development of IPN is attractive because they provide free volume space for the easy encapsulation of drugs in the three-dimensional network structure which are obtained by cross- linking of two or more polymer network. These systems are currently the focus of considerable scientific research due to their potential technological application in a large number of areas: medicine, industry, biology and environmental clean-up. Some of the significant applications of IPNs include artificial implants, dialysis membranes, drug-delivery systems, burn- dressings, etc. This review disserts about application and properties of IPN have enabled this polymer to become the choice of the pharmacologist as oral drug delivery matrices and other applications.

Keywords: Natural polymers, Interpenetrating polymer network, IPN Double network, biodegradable, multicomponent.