Influence of hyaluronic acid on the formation of isolated poly(vinyl acetate) films for oral solid coatings

ABSTRACT This article presents a preformulation study of isolated poly(vinyl acetate) films with the addition of hyaluronic acid (HA). The films were prepared with the solvent evaporation method and evaluated according to macroscopic, morphologic, structural, water vapor transmission (WVT), swelling index (Si%), and thickness measurements and thermal analyses. The addition of HA resulted proportional reductions in the thickness, transparency, and flexibility and increased WVT rates and Si%. Fourier transform infrared spectra demonstrated that only physical mixing occurred, whereas the thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry curves indicated that the films were thermally stable because the initial decomposition temperature was above 200 °C. The electron micrographs showed modifications in the structure of the polymeric mesh after imersion of films in simulated gastric or intestinal fluids. The prepared films have potential for application in pharmaceutical modification of drug release. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44815.