Zero-order therapeutic release from imprinted hydrogel contact lenses within in vitro physiological ocular tear flow.

摘要: Zero-order or concentration independent release kinetics are highly desirable from drug delivery devices. In this paper we demonstrate experimentally, for the first time, zero-order of a small molecular weight therapeutic, ketotifen fumarate (MW=425), molecularly imprinted hydrogels used as therapeutic contact lenses. We performed dynamic, in vitro studies hydrogel lenses within novel microfluidic device that simulates volumetric flow rates, tear volume and composition eye. Imprinted gels with multiple functional monomers complexation points to demonstrated significantly delayed compared less functionalized systems. There were no statistical differences experimentally determined equilibrium swollen polymer fractions, which correlate between crosslinks mesh size gel. Under infinite sink conditions, Fickian (concentration dependent) diffusion coefficients ranging 4.04 x 10(-9) 5.57 10(-10) cm(2)/s. The highest gel exhibited coefficient averaging ten times smaller than released over 5 days 3 distinct rates release. physiological rate was constant duration 3.5 delivering therapeutically relevant dosage fit power law model indicating characteristics n=0.981+/-0.006 (r(2)=0.997). This work demonstrates potential micro/nanofluidic devices determine stresses importance matching local conditions adequately characterize It also enormous imprinting further tailor via process.