Nicotinic acid in nanocontainers. Encapsulation and release from ion exchangers


doi: 10.5599/admet.626 76 

 ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5599/admet.626 

 
Open Access : ISSN : 1848-7718  

http://www.pub.iapchem.org/ojs/index.php/admet/index  
Original scientific paper 

Nicotinic acid in nanocontainers. Encapsulation and release 
from ion exchangers  

Heinrich Altshuler
1
*, Elena Ostapova

1
, Olga Altshuler

1,2
, Galina Shkurenko

1
, Natalya 

Malyshenko
1
, Sergey Lyrschikov

1
, Roman Parshkov

1 

1
Laboratory of Supramolecular Polymer Chemistry, Institute of Coal Chemistry and Material Science, Federal Research 

Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kemerovo, 650000, Russian 
Federation; 
2
 Institute of Basic Sciences, Kemerovo State University, Kemerovo, 650000, Russian Federation 

*Corresponding Author: E-mail: altshulerh@gmail.com ; Tel.: +7-905-966-6685 

Received: October 16, 2018; Revised: December 06, 2018; Published: December 26, 2018  

 

Abstract 

The paper is devoted to the study of the ion exchange encapsulation of nicotinic acid in nanocontainers on 
polymer matrices. Dowex-50 cation exchanger, sulphonated polymer based on metacyclophanoctol, 
polymer zirconium phosphate, and strongly basic Dowex-1 anion exchanger are used as polymer matrices. 
It was confirmed that commercial ion exchangers can encapsulate up to 0.64 g of nicotinic acid per gram of 
polymer. The high elution rate of nicotinic acid from nanocontainers via the ion exchange mechanism 
makes it possible to achieve the desired pharmacokinetics of drug release in vivo. 

Keywords 

nicotinic acid; encapsulation; ion exchange polymers; pharmacokinetics 
 

Introduction 

Currently, research is being conducted on the design of polymeric nanocontainers for drug 

encapsulation [1]. Polymeric nanocontainers facilitate establishment of the desired pharmacokinetics, i.e., 

a given drug release timeframe, decreased frequency of administration and dose, and targeted delivery of 

molecules to the disease site. The possibilities for preserving and storing dosage forms are practically 

unlimited. The therapeutic agent is used as drug delivery vector to the disease-site molecular target. Thus, 

the drugs encapsulation in nanocontainers creates unlimited possibilities for storing dosage forms and the 

change in their pharmacokinetic properties. It is important to consider the processes of encapsulation and 

the process of releasing substances from molecular containers immobilized on matrices of network ion 

exchange polymers. Dowex type ion exchangers based on polystyrene matrices are widely used in the 

medical industry for the preparation of drinking and pyrogen-free water, in the production of antibiotics, in 

a clinical setting for regulating of human water-salt balance and in the treatment of hyperkalemia by oral 

administrating [2-5]. Earlier we investigated the encapsulation of benzocaine and the kinetics of its 

desorption from sulphonated polycalixarene and CU-23 30/100 macroporous sulphocathionite [6,7]. It was 

suggested to use the kinetic characteristics studied to model the drug-release pharmacokinetics from a 

http://www.pub.iapchem.org/ojs/index.php/admet/index
mailto:altshulerh@gmail.com


ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 Encapsulation and release of nicotinic acid 

doi: 10.5599/admet.626 77 

nanocontainer upon oral administration [7]. 

Nicotinic acid (3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, the chemical formula C6H5O2N, synonyms  niacin, vitamin B3, 

vitamin PP [8]) plays an important role in the human metabolism. 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid is a prosthetic 

group of redox coenzymes codohydrase I (nicotine adenine dinucleotide) and codohydrase II (nicotinamide 

adenine dinucleotide phosphate) which are key components to cellular metabolic reactions in biological 

systems [8,9]. Nicotinic acid as a drug is prescribed for the prevention and treatment of pellagra, with 

spasms of limb vessels and brain, ulcers, the neuritis of the facial nerve, infectious and gastrointestinal 

diseases [8]. The world demand for nicotinic acid and its derivatives continuously grows. The forecast for 

the year of 2020 is 100000 tons [10]. 

Free nicotinic acid is readily absorbed in all parts of gastrointestinal track. We assume that its 

encapsulation in ion exchangers will allow targeted delivery of the drug substance only to the stomach or 

intestines at oral administration. The behavior of nicotinic acid in vivo during passage through the 

gastrointestinal tract as well as by its ion exchange encapsulation and release from molecular containers is 

mainly determined by the acid-base equilibria (Scheme 1). See below acid-base equilibria in aqueous 

solutions of nicotinic acid. 

Nicotinic acid ionization 

N

COO-

N
H+

COO-

N
H+

COOH

L HL H2L
K1 K2

+H+ +H+

 
Scheme 1. Acid-base equilibria in aqueous solutions of nicotinic acid 

The molar fractions of various ionic forms of nicotinic acid vs pH of the solution calculated from the 

equilibrium constants (log K1 = 4.81 and log K2 = 2.07 [11]) are shown in Figure 1.  

Figure 1. Molar fractions of ionic forms of nicotinic acid xL (1), xHL (2), xH
2

L (3) vs pH of the solution. 



Heinrich Altshuler et al.  ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 

78  

Free hydrochloric acid is secreted in the stomach of a living organism. The pH of the medium is usually 

equal to 2. As can be seen from Figure 1 the concentration of nicotinic acid cations (xH2L) is predominant at 

pH  2. Nicotinic acid is represented by the anionic form (L) in the intestine where pH > 6. It is desirable to 

encapsulate and release the nicotinic acid from nanocontainer in the form of cations or anions for drug 

targeted delivery in vivo. 

The aim of this paper is to study the encapsulation and the release of nicotinic acid in ionized forms 

proceeding in molecular containers immobilized on matrices of network ion exchange polymers. 

Encapsulation of nicotinic acid in a cation form is carried out in nanocontainers on matrices of cross-

linked polystyrene sulphonate (Dowex-50 cation exchanger), sulphonated polymer based on 

metacyclophanctol and polymer zirconium phosphate by the cation exchange reaction: 

,


 HСOOHPyHСOOHPyHH  (1) 

H
+
Py  COOH  cation of nicotinic acid (cation of protonated 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, H2L), the line 

indicates the polymer phase. 

Encapsulation of nicotinic acid in anion form is carried out on the matrix of cross-linked strong basic 

Dowex-1 anion exchanger by the anion exchange reaction 

.


 ClСOOPyСOOPyСl  (2) 

Here Py  COO

  anion of nicotinic acid (anion of 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid, L).  

The process (1) of the sorption of nicotinic acid cations (H2L) on the cation exchanger by the ion 

exchange mechanism has been studied at the concentration of H2L cations exceeding the concentration of 

the L anions and the HL molecules in the solution, i.e. at pH < 2 (Figure 1). The process (2) of the chloride 

anion exchange of by the nicotinic acid anion on the anion exchanger is studied at pH > 6, when the 

concentration of L anions in solution exceeded the concentration of H2L cations and HL molecules (Figure 1). 

Experimental  

Materials 

Nicotinic acid (obtained from J.S.C. «Organica», Russian Federation) contains 99.0 % 3-pyridine-

carboxylic acid and meets the requirements of the International Pharmacopoeia [12]. Dowex-50 cation 

exchanger and strongly basic Dowex-1 anion exchanger were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich. 

Dowex-50, cation exchanging sulphonated copolymer of styrene with 8 % divinylbenzene, contains only 

one type of ionogenic groups, viz. sulpho group (SO3H). The total dynamic ion exchange capacity is 5.2 

mequiv/g of the H-form of a dry polymer. A sulphonated polymer based on metacyclophanoctol was 

prepared according to the procedure described previously [13]. It has a gel structure and contains two 

types of ionogenic groups: phenolic -OH and -SO3H groups. The total dynamic ion exchange capacity of 

sulphonated polycalixarene is 5.65 mequiv./g. Its capacity with respect to sulpho groups is 2.45 mequiv./g 

[13]. Polymer zirconium phosphate is prepared according to the procedure described previously [14]. The 

dynamic ion exchange capacity with respect to 0.1 M NaCl is 1.05 mequiv./g. 

Dowex-1 is a strong basic anion exchanger. It contains benzyltrimethylammonium groups at the matrix 

of the styrene with 8 % divinylbenzene copolymer. The total dynamic ion exchange capacity of the anion 

exchanger with respect to 0.1 М КОН is equal to 2.7 mequiv. per 1 g of the Cl-form of the dry polymer. 



ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 Encapsulation and release of nicotinic acid 

doi: 10.5599/admet.626 79 

Methods 

The encapsulation of nicotinic acid in nanocontainers was carried out by the ion exchange sorption. To 

encapsulate nicotinic acid into nanocontainers on the matrices of the cation exchangers and to determine 

the dynamic capacity of the cation exchangers with respect to nicotinic acid, 0.01 M solution of nicotinic 

acid in 0.01 M hydrochloric acid was passed through an ion exchange column containing cation exchanger 

in H-form until the solution composition at the inlet and outlet from the column became equal. To 

encapsulate nicotinic acid into a nanocontainer on the anion exchanger, 0.01-0.05 M solution of the 

potassium salt of nicotinic acid was passed through an ion exchange column containing Dowex-1 in the Cl-

form until the nicotinic acid concentration at the inlet and outlet from the column became equal. The 

dynamic ion exchange capacity with respect to nicotinic acid was calculated as the arithmetic mean of 7 

measurements on each polymer. 

To elute nicotinic acid from nanocontainers on the cation exchanger matrices, a 0.01 M HCl solution 

was passed through the cation exchanger layer containing nicotinic acid until the nicotinic acid in the 

eluate disappeared. When the nicotinic acid was eluted from the Dowex-1 anion exchanger through the 

ion exchanger layer containing nicotinic acid, 0.01-0.1 M aqueous NaCl solutions was passed. The nicotinic 

acid was crystallized from the obtained eluates by their evaporation and precipitation at pH 3.3-3.6 via the 

procedure [15].  

The selection of spherical granules and their size determination for kinetic studies was carried out on 

the IMC 100 × 50, A microscope. The size distribution of polymer granules is described by the Gaussian 

function. The radius of spherical particles calculated as the arithmetic mean of 1000 granules sizes was 

equal to (1.8±1.2)∙10
-4

 m for Dowex-50 cation exchanger and (2.2±0.6)∙10
-4

 m for Dowex-1 anion 

exchanger. The errors were calculated with 0.95 confidence level. The kinetics of the nicotinic acid release 

(elution) from nanocontainers was studied at 298 K using the dynamic thin-layer method [16]. The fact that 

the solution flowed through a thin layer of the ion exchanger at high speed is a special feature of the 

method [16]. The infinite volume of 0.01 M aqueous HCl solution or pure water were passed through the 

layer of Dowex-50 cation exchanger in the form of nicotinic acid cations. The infinite volume of 0.1 M 

aqueous NaCl solution was passed through the layer of Dowex-1 anion exchanger in the form of nicotinic 

acid anions. After a certain period of time the concentrations of nicotinic acid were determined using an 

SF-46 spectrophotometer at λ = 262.7 nm in a buffer solution with pH 6.9. The degree of conversion was 

calculated using the formula F = Mt/M∞, where Mt is the amount of nicotinic acid desorbed up to time t 

and M∞ is the amount of nicotinic acid desorbed up to infinite time. 

13
C NMR solid-state spectra were obtained on a Bruker Avance II+ 300WB instrument at the operating 

frequencies 75.48 MHz (
13

C). Fourier IR spectra of nicotinic acid in tablets with KBr were obtained on the 

"Infralum FT-801" spectrometer. 

Molecular design and calculations of the formation energies of nanocontainer structures containing 

encapsulated nicotinic acid were carried out by the PM7 method in the framework of the MOPAC2016 

program taken from the web site: www.openmopac.net [17] on a computer based on the Intel (R) Core 

(TM) processor i5-2310 CPU @ 2.9 GHz 2.9 GHz. 

 
 
 
 

http://www.openmopac.net/


Heinrich Altshuler et al.  ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 

80  

Results and Discussion 

Nanocontainers 

Elementary units of network polymers, which act as nanocontainers for nicotinic acid are shown in 

Figure 2. 

 

Figure 2. The structures of nanocontainers containing nicotinic acid in (a) Dowex-50 cation exchanger, (b) 
sulphonated polymer based on metacyclophanoctol, (c) polymer zirconium phosphate, (d) Dowex-1 anion 

exchanger. The structures have a minimum of internal energy within the MOPAC2016 program. 

Elementary units of Dowex-50 cation exchanger (Figure 2(a)) and Dowex-1 anion exchanger (Figure 

2(d)) contain hydrophobic baskets consisting of alkylaromatic chains with ionogenic sulpho- or 

tetraalkylammonium group, respectively. The elementary unit of sulphonated polymer based on 

metacyclophanoctol (Figure 2(b)) contains a macrocyclic cavity and two hydrophilic rims. The lower rim 

includes eight hydroxyl groups; the upper rim consists of four ionogenic sulpho groups (one SO3H group per 

benzene ring). Polymer zirconium phosphate is a matrix with a layered structure, which is capable of 

locating small guest molecules in the interlayer space. The elementary unit of this polymer is shown in 

Figure 2(c). As shown via quantum-chemical calculations, the elementary units of the investigated 

polymers complementarily interact with ionized nicotinic acid molecules (cations of protonated 3-

pyridinecarboxylic acid or anions 3-pyridinecarboxylate) by host-guest type. 

Encapsulation 

The experimental values of the dynamic exchange capacity of polymers at the encapsulation of nicotinic 

acid are given in the Table 1. 

It is found out that 0.33 and 0.64 grams of nicotinic acid are encapsulated in one gram of Dowex-1 and 



ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 Encapsulation and release of nicotinic acid 

doi: 10.5599/admet.626 81 

Dowex-50, respectively. The exchange capacities of the Dowex-50 cation exchanger and the sulphonated 

polymer based on metacyclophanoctol with respect to nicotinic acid (Table 1) correspond to the contents 

of strongly acidic sulpho groups in polymers. The capacity of the Dowex-1 anion exchanger with respect to 

nicotinic acid corresponds to the content of benzyltrimethylammonium ionogenic groups in the polymer. 

Table 1. Capacities of ion exchange polymers with respect to nicotinic acid (mean ± error, 0.95 confidence level). 

Ion exchange polymer Equilibrium solution 
Dynamic exchange capacity (content 
of nicotinic acid per one gram of dry 

polymer), mmol/g 

Dowex-50 cation exchanger  0.01 M nicotinic acid in 0.01 M HCl  5.2 ± 0.1 
Sulphonated polymer based on 
metacyclophanoctol 

0.01 M nicotinic acid in 0.01 M HCl  2.45 ± 0.05 

Polymer zirconium phosphate 0.01 M nicotinic acid in 0.01 M HCl  0.18 ± 0.02 

Dowex-1 anion exchanger Potassium nicotinate in water, 0.01 M 2.70 ± 0.05 

13
C NMR spectra of the solid samples of nicotinic acid sulfate (sulfate of protonated 3-pyridinecarboxylic 

acid), sulphonated polymer based on metacyclophanoctol and Dowex-50 cation exchanger are given in 

Figure 3. 
13

C NMR spectra of the solid samples of the potassium salt of the nicotinic acid (potassium 3-

pyridinecarboxylate), Dowex-1 anion exchanger are given in Figure 4. As can be seen from Figure 3, there is 

a resonance line corresponding to the chemical shift of  = 165 ppm (C = O [18]) in the spectrum (1) of 

nicotinic acid sulfate and in the spectra (2), (4) of cation exchangers containing encapsulated nicotinic acid. 

In the 
13

C NMR spectrum (Figure 4) of the potassium salt of the nicotinic acid as well as in the spectrum of 

the Dowex-1 filled with nicotinic acid anions, there is a resonance line next to  = 170 ppm (chemical shift 

of carboxylate anions [18]). There is no such line in spectrum of the Dowex-1, free of nicotinic acid. Thus, it 

follows from the 
13

C spectra that the encapsulated nicotinic acid is actually contained in ion exchange 

polymers in an ionized forms as protonated 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid cations or as anions of 3-

pyridinecarboxylate. 

Release 

 Water solutions simulating the electrolyte composition of the human gastrointestinal tract are used for 

the release (elution) of the nicotinic acid from nanocontainers. The release of nicotinic acid from cation 

exchangers is carried out using HCl solution (at pH  2). This simulates the electrolyte composition of the 

stomach. The release of the nicotinic acid from the anion exchanger is carried out using aqueous solutions 

of NaCl (at pH > 6) which simulates the electrolyte composition of the intestine.  

It has been found that the dynamic exchange capacities during encapsulation and the release of 

nicotinic acid are equal to each other. It is clear that the encapsulation of the nicotinic acid proceeds in 

accordance with the stoichiometric ion exchange reactions (1) and (2). The release of nicotinic acid from 

nanocontainers on matrices of ion exchange polymers can be described by the ion exchange reactions (3) 

and (4). 

,СOOHPyHHHСOOHPyH    (3) 

.


 СOOPyСlClСOOPy  (4) 

Nicotinic acid that is precipitated from eluates contains 99 % of the 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid. The 

melting point of 235–236 С corresponds to these data [19]. Elemental analyses (%) of the precipitated 

nicotinic acid are C, 57.9 ± 0.5; H, 4.1 ± 0.1; N, 11.2 ± 0.5; O, 25.0 ± 1.0 which corresponds within the error 

of determination to the calculated C7H5NO4 formula (C, 58.30; H, 4.08; N, 11.34; O, 25.91). Thus, the 



Heinrich Altshuler et al.  ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 

82  

composition of the product released from the encapsulated state coincides with the elemental 

composition of the nicotinic acid.  

 

Figure 3. 
13

C NMR spectra of solid samples of (1) nicotinic acid sulfate, (2) sulphonated polymer based on 
metacyclophanoctol containing nicotinic acid, (3) sulphonated polymer based on metacyclophanoctol, (4) 

Dowex-50 cation exchanger containing nicotinic acid, (5) Dowex-50 cation exchanger.  

 

Figure 4. 
13

C NMR spectra of solid samples of (1) of potassium salt of the nicotinic acid (potassium 3-
pyridinecarboxylate); (2) Dowex-1 anion exchanger containing nicotinic acid anions; (3) Dowex-1 anion exchanger. 



ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 Encapsulation and release of nicotinic acid 

doi: 10.5599/admet.626 83 

The Fourier IR spectrum of the product precipitated from the eluate corresponds (Figure 5) to the 

spectrum [20] of nicotinic acid. It contains the intense vibration bands at 1712 сm
– 1

 and 1113 сm
– 1

 

belonging to the carbonyl and carboxyl group of the 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid [20,21]. The 
13

С NMR 

spectrum of the product obtained from the eluate coincided with the NMR spectrum of the nicotinic acid. 

The nicotinic acid is encapsulated, and then completely released from the researched polymers. This is 

resulted from the material balance of the ion exchange processes (1), (2) of encapsulation and (3), (4) 

release, NMR and IR spectra, elemental analysis, and melting point of nicotinic acid. Nicotinic acid in 

nanocontainers exists in the cation or anion forms.  

 

Figure 5. Fourier IR spectrum of nicotinic acid precipitated from eluate in tablets with KBr. 

It is established that Dowex-50 cation exchanger, sulphonated polymer based on metacyclophanoctol, 

polymeric zirconium phosphate as well as a strongly basic Dowex-1 anion exchanger were not destroyed, 

during the process of encapsulating and releasing of the nicotinic acid. The performance characteristics of 

commercial polymers Dowex-1 and Dowex-50 were not changed in five cycles of encapsulation and during 

the release of the nicotinic acid. Taking into account the above, the nicotinic acid encapsulation in 

nanocontainers based on commercial polymers: Dowex-50 cation exchanger and Dowex-1 anion exchanger 

expands the possibilities of obtaining prolonged forms of the active substance. 

Kinetics 

The release vs time profile of nicotinic acid from commercial ion exchangers is shown in Figure 6. As can 

be seen, the best nicotinic acid release profile is achieved on the Dowex 50 ion exchanger using 0.01 M HCl 

as eluent.  

The research of the kinetics and mechanism of the ion exchange processes (3) and (4) of the nicotinic 

acid release from nanocontainers is of current interest. The dependences form of the conversion degree 

on time and the passage of lines through the origin of coordinates (Figure 6(a)) in accordance with the 

known criteria [22] indicate that the mechanism of the nicotinic acid release from ion exchangers using HCl 

or NaCl is controlled by diffusion of exchangeable ions into the polymer; i.e., gel diffusion kinetics of ion 

exchange occurs. The gel diffusion kinetics of ion exchange in the case of constant diffusion coefficient and 

spherical symmetry is described [23] by the differential equation: 



Heinrich Altshuler et al.  ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 

84  

,
2

2

2





























r

C

rr

C
D

t

С
 (5) 

where D is the diffusion coefficient of the component, C is the current concentration of the component in 

the polymer, and r is the value of radius vector. 

 

 

Figure 6. Release-time profile of nicotinic acid from ion exchangers. (a) Red triangles represent the 
experimental data of nicotinic acid release from Dowex-50 by 0.01 М HCl, green circles represent the 

experimental data of nicotinic acid release from Dowex-1 by 0.1 М NaCl. (b) Dark blue triangles represent the 
experimental data of nicotinic acid release from Dowex-50 by H2O. Error bars show deviation from mean 

values, n=3.  

In a monofunctional ion exchanger, the diffusion kinetics of ion exchange in a spherical polymer particle 

contacting with a solution of invariable composition and infinite volume is described by the known 

dependence [24]: 



ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 Encapsulation and release of nicotinic acid 

doi: 10.5599/admet.626 85 

 2 2 2W 02 2
1

6 1
1 exp / ,

n
F D n t r

n








    (6) 

where DW is the interdiffusion coefficient of exchangeable ions in the polymer, r0 is the radius of a polymer 

particle. 

 The kinetic characteristics of the processes (3) and (4) of nicotinic acid release are shown in Figure 7.  

 

Figure 7. Kinetics of the processes of nicotinic acid release from ion exchangers. The solid and dotted lines 
correspond to calculations using Equation (6); the numbers near the lines show the interdiffusion coefficients 
expressed in m

2
/s. The red triangles represent the experimental data of nicotinic acid release from Dowex-50 

and green circles represent the experimental data of nicotinic acid release from Dowex-1. 

A comparison of the time dependences of the conversion degree and the experimental data (at 0 < F < 

0.5) shows that the kinetics of processes (3) and (4) are determined by a slow diffusion of the components 

in the polymer phase. This is confirmed by the agreement between the experimental kinetic characteristics 

and theoretical equations as well as low values of the diffusion coefficients characteristic of the polymer 

phase.  

As one can see from Figure 7, the experimental data on the release of the protonated nicotinic acid 

from polymer are approximated well by Equation (6). The interdiffusion coefficient of organic cations is 

(0.9 ± 0.1)∙10
−11

 m
2
/s in Dowex-50 while the interdiffusion coefficient of organic anions in Dowex-1 is (1.3 ± 

0.4)∙10
-12

 m
2
/s. For the processes involving ionized pyridinecarboxylic acid the interdiffusion coefficients 

are significantly lower than the interdiffusion coefficient for the ion exchange H Na  in Amberlite IR-1 

(3.7∙10
-10

 m
2
/s [24]). For the processes (3) and (4), the interdiffusion coefficients within the selected 

interval of compositions of the ion exchangers are definitely controlled by the mobility of the organic ions 

in the polymers. For F < 0.5 the interdiffusion coefficient errors were calculated with a confidence equal to 

0.95 using the least squares method. 

The half-conversion time of nicotinic acid release is obtained from experimental data (Figure 6 ) or is 

calculated by equation (6) using the values of interdiffusion coefficients. The half-conversion time of 

nicotinic acid release by 0.01 M solution of HCl from Dowex-50 is 140 s, which equals to 10,000 s when 

nicotinic acid is desorbed by water. The half- conversion time of nicotinic acid release by 0.1 M solution of 



Heinrich Altshuler et al.  ADMET & DMPK 7(1) (2019) 76-87 

86  

NaCl from Dowex-1 is 1200 s that equals to more than one year when nicotinic acid is desorbed by water.  

Conclusions 

 The nicotinic acid encapsulation in nanocontainers based on commercial polymers: Dowex-50 cation 

exchanger and Dowex-1 anion exchanger expands the possibilities of obtaining prolonged forms of the 

active substance.  

Nicotinic acid is released from the polymers by the ion exchange mechanism using a strong electrolyte 

as the eluent. This should be taken into account when predicting the pharmacokinetics of the release of a 

drug substance in vivo. It is likely that nicotinic acid encapsulated in Dowex-50 upon oral administration 

remains immobilized in the esophagus and it is rapidly released at pH 2 upon reaching the stomach where 

hydrochloric acid is secreted. Nicotinic acid encapsulated in Dowex-1 can be targeted to the intestine in 

which it is easily released at pH 6. 

Acknowledgements: The work is carried out within the framework of the state assignment of the Institute 
of Coal Chemistry and Material Science, Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry, Siberian 
Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (project AAAA-A17-117041910146-5) using the equipment of the 
Collective-Use Center, Federal Research Center of Coal and Coal Chemistry.  

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