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Published on: October 29, 2013
Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylated-beta-cyclodextrin) hydrogels: synthesis, cytocompatibility,
Jose-Fernando Rosa dos Santos1, Ramiro Couceiro, Angel Concheiro
1Departamento de Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782-Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Researchers developed new hydrogels by combining hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) derivatives for tunable drug delivery in soft contact lenses. These biocompatible pHEMA-co-beta-CD hydrogels offer controlled release of medications like acetazolamide.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Hydrogels based on hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) are widely used in biomedical applications, including soft contact lenses.
- Incorporating beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) derivatives into hydrogel networks can enhance drug loading and control release properties.
- Developing medicated soft contact lenses requires materials with tunable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and controlled drug elution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize novel hydrogels via copolymerization of HEMA with a methacrylated beta-CD derivative.
- To evaluate the impact of methacrylated beta-CD content on hydrogel mechanical properties, swelling behavior, and cytocompatibility.
- To investigate the drug loading and sustained release capabilities of these hydrogels using model drugs like hydrocortisone and acetazolamide.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a fully methacrylated beta-CD monomer.
- Copolymerization of HEMA with varying concentrations of the methacrylated beta-CD monomer using thermal polymerization.
- Characterization of hydrogel properties including degree of conversion, glass transition temperature, swelling, mechanical moduli, and drug loading/release kinetics.
Main Results:
- Transparent, cytocompatible hydrogels with high conversion (>74%) were successfully prepared.
- Increased methacrylated beta-CD content led to higher glass transition temperatures, reduced swelling, and enhanced mechanical strength.
- Drug loading varied, with acetazolamide showing optimal loading at intermediate beta-CD content, and sustained release over several days was observed.
Conclusions:
- Copolymerization of HEMA with methacrylated beta-CD offers a viable strategy for creating hydrogels with tunable properties for biomedical applications.
- The methacrylated beta-CD content effectively modulates hydrogel mechanics and drug release profiles, particularly for medicated soft contact lenses.
- These pHEMA-co-beta-CD hydrogels demonstrate potential for controlled delivery of drugs like acetazolamide, tailored by adjusting beta-CD concentration.
