Preparation and characterization of hyaluronate-hydroxyethyl acrylate blend hydrogel for controlled release device

Hyaluronate-hydroxyethyl acrylate blend hydrogels were investigated as matrices for controlled release devices. Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) derivatized HA (GMA-HA) was synthesized by coupling of GMA to HA in the presence of a suitable catalyst. These hydrogels were prepared by a free radical copolymerization of GMA-HA and hydroxyethyl acrylate. The water content of these hydrogels at equilibrium swelling in water (Ww) was 0.978+/-0.0073 (n=18); however, these hydrogel was mechanically tough and could be used as disk shape. The hydrogels swelling were found to depend on ionic strength and pH. The dried hydrogels quickly regained their original condition in water, and they swelled to more than 90% of its initial water contents after 30 min. This swelling-deswelling behavior was reproducible. The release of chlorpromazine HCl as a model cationic drug from the gels was suppressed significantly in water. The release increased with increasing the ionic strength and decreasing pH of bulk solutions.