Preparation, characterization, and drug release properties of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels having β-cyclodextrin functionality

Abstract

A new β-cyclodextrin urethane-methacrylate monomer was synthesized from the reaction of toluene-2,4-diisocyanate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Based on inclusion character of β-CD, a series of hydrogels were prepared by irradiating the mixtures of β-cyclodextrin urethane-methacrylate monomer (β-CD-UM), poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA), HEMA, and the photoinitator. Gel percentages and equilibrium swelling ratios (%) of hydrogels were investigated. It was observed that the equilibrium-swelling ratio increased with increasing β-CD-UM content in the hydrogel composition. SEM images demonstrated that β-CD-UM based hydrogel have porous fractured surface. In this study four different drug molecules, salicylic acid, sulfathiazole, rifampicin, and methyl orange as model drug, which are capable of forming inclusion complexes withβ-CD were chosen. For sulfathiazole and rifampicin, the drug loadings are very low (0.04 and 0.008 mmol/g dry gel), whereas methyl orange and salicylic acid drug uptakes are found as 0.15 and 0.18 mmol/g dry gel, respectively. The incorporation of β-CD-UM comonomer into the gel slightly reduces the methyl orange and salicylic acid releases. However, a significant enhancement was achieved in the case of sulfathiazole delivery. It can be concluded that the inclusion complex formation capability of β-CD moiety increases the drug release by improving the aqueous solubility of hydrophobic drugs. On the other hand, in the case of hydrophilic drugs, the drug release retards by forming strong drug-β-CD complex and reducing the drug diffusivity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008