Cyclodextrin-containing hydrogels for contact lenses as a platform for drug incorporation and release

• Published in: Acta biomaterialia Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 486 - 493
• Main Authors: Xu, Jinku, Li, Xinsong, Sun, Fuqian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2010
• Subjects: Animals; Contact Lenses; Cyclodextrin; Cyclodextrins - chemistry; Drug Delivery Systems; Hydrogel; Hydrogels; Ophthalmic delivery; Puerarin; Rabbits; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Cyclodextrin; Hydrogel; Ophthalmic delivery; Puerarin; Contact lenses
• ISSN: 1742-7061; 1878-7568
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2009.07.021

Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels containing β-cyclodextrin (pHEMA/β-CD) have been investigated as a platform for sustained release of ophthalmic drugs. First of all, pHEMA/β-CD hydrogel membranes and contact lenses were prepared by photopolymerization of HEMA, mono-methacrylated β-CD (mono-MA-β-CD) and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate using a cast molding process. The hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR) and tensile tester. The results showed that the incorporation of β-CD in the hydrogels increased the ESR and tensile strength. Then, puerarin was used as a model to evaluate drug loading and in vitro and in vivo release behavior of the pHEMA/β-CD hydrogels. It was revealed that puerarin loading and in vitro release rate were dependent on β-CD content in the pHEMA/β-CD hydrogels. In rabbit eyes the pHEMA/β-CD hydrogel contact lenses exhibited longer mean residence times (MRT F) of puerarin in tear fluid than that of pHEMA contact lenses and 1% puerarin eye drops. The puerarin concentration in the aqueous humor of rabbit reached a maximum of 0.81 μg ml −1 after wearing the pHEMA/β-CD contact lens, which had been presoaked in 0.802 mg ml −1 puerarin solution for 4.81 h. Also, the pHEMA/β-CD contact lenses had a higher drug bioavailability in aqueous humor than puerarin eye drops. The data demonstrate that pHEMA/β-CD hydrogel contact lenses can effectively deliver puerarin through the cornea.