Swelling of PHEMA based membranes in ethanol and their nitroglycerin permeabilities

The aim of this study is to prepare PHEMA based polymeric membranes for a transdermal delivery system, which includes a skin permeation enhancer (i.e. ethanol) for nitroglycerin. Membranes were prepared by bulk polymerization of HEMA monomer. Polymerization was achieved in the presence of EGDMA, as the cross-linker, and AIBN as the initiator. MMA was used as a comonomer to improve the mechanical properties and to adjust the permeabilities of the resulting membranes. Water was also included in the polymerization mixture to control the matrix structure. Membranes with different chemical and physical structures were prepared. Swelling behaviour of these matrices in ethanol were observed. Nitroglycerin diffusion through swollen membranes (in ethanol) were investigated. It was obtained that the relative amounts of ingredients (i.e., HEMA, MMA, EGDMA and water) in the casting solutions affect both the equilibrium swelling values and the permeabilities. By increasing the water content and by decreasing the amounts of MMA and EGDMA both parameters can be increased. AIBN does not affect these parameters significantly.