Thermal behavior of poly hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) hydrogels

Interpenetrating Polymer Networks of Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and Poly(N, N-dimethylacrylamide) as Potential Systems for Dermal Delivery of Dexamethasone Phosphate

In this study, a series of novel poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)/poly(N,N'-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAM) interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) were synthesized and studied as potential drug delivery systems of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DXP) for dermal application. The IPN composition allows for control over its swelling ability as the incorporation of the highly hydrophilic PDMAM increases more than twice the IPN swelling ratio as compared to the PHEMA single networks, namely from ~0.5 to ~1.1. The increased swelling ratio of the IPNs results in an increased entrapment efficiency up to ~30% as well as an increased drug loading capacity of DXP up to 4.5%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) show the formation of a solid dispersion between the drug DXP and the polymer (IPNs) matrix. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy shows an even distribution of DXP within the IPN structure. The DXP release follows Fickian diffusion with ~70% of DXP released in 24 h. This study demonstrates the potential of the newly developed IPNs for the dermal delivery of DXP.

Highly Expandable Foam for Lithographic 3D Printing

In modern manufacturing, it is a widely accepted limitation that the parts patterned by an additive or subtractive manufacturing process (i.e., a lathe, mill, or 3D printer) must be smaller than the machine itself that produced them. Once such parts are manufactured, they can be postprocessed, fastened together, welded, or adhesively bonded to form larger structures. We have developed a foaming prepolymer resin for lithographic additive manufacturing, which can be expanded after printing to produce parts up to 40× larger than their original volume. This allows for the fabrication of structures significantly larger than the build volume of the 3D printer that produced them. Complex geometries comprised of porous foams have implications in technologically demanding fields such as architecture, aerospace, energy, and biomedicine. This manuscript presents a comprehensive screening process for resin formulations, detailed analysis of printing parameters, and observed mechanical properties of the 3D-printed foams.

Design, Synthesis, Investigation, and Application of a Macromolecule Photoswitch

Azobenzene (AZO) has attracted increasing interest due to its reversible structural change upon a light stimulus. However, poor fatigue durability and the photobleaching phenomenon restricts its further application. Herein, the AZO domain as a pendent group, was incorporated into copolymers, which was synthesized by radical copolymerization in the research. Structure-properties of synthesized copolymer can be adjusted by monomer ratios. Emphatically, responsive properties of copolymer in different solutions were investigated. In the DMSO solution, copolymer exhibited effective structural change, stable rapid responsive time (1 min) upon UV light at room temperature, stable relative acceptable recovery time (100 min) upon white light at room temperature, and good fatigue resistance property. In an aqueous solution, even more controllable responsive properties and fatigue resistance properties for copolymer were verified by results. More pervasively, the recovery process could be controlled by light density and temperature. In order to clarify reasons for the difference between the AZO molecule and the AZO domain of copolymer, energy barrier or interactions between single atoms or even structural units was calculated using the density functional theory (DFT). Furthermore, the status of copolymer was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Finally, copolymer was further functionalized with bioactive protein (concanavalin, ConA) to reduce the cytotoxicity of the AZO molecule.

Hydrogen-bonds structure in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) studied by temperature-dependent infrared spectroscopy

Hydrogen-bonds structure in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) were investigated by means of temperature-dependent infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Spectral variations involved with the OH…OH and C=O…HO types of hydrogen-bonds were found around the glass transition temperature of 80°C. Hydrogen-bonds among the hydroxyl groups gradually dissociate with increasing temperature. In contrast, discontinuous variation in the carbonyl bands was observed around the glass transition temperature. An association of the C=O…HO type of hydrogen-bond with increasing temperature above the glass transition temperature was revealed. These were concluded from the present study that hydrogen-bonds among the hydroxyl groups in each side chain terminal suppress the main chain mobility in the polymer matrix below the glass transition temperature, while the dissociation of the OH…OH type of hydrogen-bonds induces the association of the C=O…HO type of hydrogen-bond. As a result, the mobility of the main chain is induced by the change in hydrogen-bonds structure at the glass transition temperature.

Crosslinked hydrogels-a promising class of insoluble solid molecular dispersion carriers for enhancing the delivery of poorly soluble drugs

Water-insoluble materials containing amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) are an emerging category of drug carriers which can effectively improve dissolution kinetics and kinetic solubility of poorly soluble drugs. ASDs based on water-insoluble crosslinked hydrogels have unique features in contrast to those based on conventional water-soluble and water-insoluble carriers. For example, solid molecular dispersions of poorly soluble drugs in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) can maintain a high level of supersaturation over a prolonged period of time via a feedback-controlled diffusion mechanism thus avoiding the initial surge of supersaturation followed by a sharp decline in drug concentration typically encountered with ASDs based on water-soluble polymers. The creation of both immediate- and controlled-release ASD dosage forms is also achievable with the PHEMA based hydrogels. So far, ASD systems based on glassy PHEMA have been shown to be very effective in retarding precipitation of amorphous drugs in the solid state to achieve a robust physical stability. This review summarizes recent research efforts in investigating the potential of developing crosslinked PHEMA hydrogels as a promising alternative to conventional water-soluble ASD carriers, and a related finding that the rate of supersaturation generation does affect the kinetic solubility profiles implications to hydrogel based ASDs.

Mesoporous carbon amperometric glucose sensors using inexpensive, commercial methacrylate-based binders

Two ordered, soft-templated mesoporous carbon powders with cubic and hexagonal framework structure and four different commercial, low cost methacrylate-based polymer binders with widely varying physical properties are investigated as screen printed electrodes for glucose sensors using glucose oxidase and ferricyanide as the mediator. Both the chemistry and concentration of the binder in the electrode formulation can significantly impact the performance. Poly(hydroxybutyl methacrylate) as the binder provides hydrophilicity to enable transport of species in the aqueous phase to the carbon surface, but yet is sufficiently hydrophobic to provide mechanical robustness to the sensor. The current from the mesoporous carbon electrodes can be more than an order of magnitude greater than for a commercial printed carbon electrode (Zensor) with improved sensitivity for model glucose solutions. Even when applying these sensors to rabbit whole blood, the performance of these glucose sensors compares favorably to a standard commercial glucose meter with the lower detection limit of the mesoporous electrode being approximately 20mgdL(-1) despite the lack of a separation membrane to prevent non-specific events; these results suggest that the small pore sizes and high surface areas associated with ordered mesoporous carbons may effectively decrease some non-specific inferences for electrochemical sensing.

Thermogravimetric investigation of the hydration behaviour of hydrophilic matrices

This article proposes thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) as a useful method to investigate the hydration behaviour of hydrophilic matrix tablets containing hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC) or a mixture of these two polymers and four drugs with different solubility. The hydration behaviour of matrix systems was studied as a function of the formulation composition and of the dissolution medium pH. TGA results suggest that the hydration of matrices containing HPMC is pH-independent and not affected by the characteristics of the loaded drug; this confirms HPMC as a good polymer to formulate controlled drug delivery systems. On the other hand, the performances of NaCMC matrix tablets are significantly affected by the medium pH and the hydration and swelling of this ionic polymer is influenced by the loaded drug. For systems containing the two polymers, HPMC plays a dominant role in the hydration/dissolution process at acidic pH, while at near neutral pH both the cellulose derivatives exert a significant influence on the hydration performance of systems. The results of this work show that TGA is able to give quantitative highlights on the hydration behaviour of polymeric materials; thus this technique could be a helpful tool to support conventional hydration/swelling/dissolution studies.

An Investigation of the Discrete and Continuum Models of Water Behavior in Hydrogel Contact Lenses

PURPOSE

To investigate the water behavior in hydrogels of differing equilibrium water content (EWC) and to use these results to investigate the opposing discrete model (thermodynamically different classes of water exist in hydrogels) and continuum model (water behaves as a consequence of nonequilibrium conditions) of nonfreezing water in swollen hydrogels.

METHODS

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to obtain melting thermograms for five lenses of each of 12 hydrogel lens types. The gravimetric content of the nonfreezing water was subsequently determined from an integrated endotherm for water. The effect of anneal time on the amount of nonfreezing water obtained in samples was investigated before undertaking these measurements. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of each of the lens types was obtained with DSC to investigate how the Tg was related to the amount of nonfreezing water found in the hydrogels.

RESULTS

Melting enthalpy increased with increasing anneal time and leveled off at 6 hours. Low-EWC lenses showed endotherms with a single melting peak at 0 degrees C. Materials with a higher EWC showed more complicated melting endotherms, with a broad shoulder occurring at temperatures below 0 degrees C. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between EWC and freezing water (R=0.95, P<0.0001), but the amount of nonfreezing water was similar for all lens materials. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between the Tg of the hydrogels and the theoretically derived weight fraction of nonfreezing water in the hydrogels required to bring the Tg of the gels down to 0 degrees C (R=0.99, P<0.0001) but not with the experimentally derived values (R=0.29, P=0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Low-EWC hydrogels have the lowest free-to-bound water ratios. That the experimentally derived values of nonfreezing water are different from the theoretically derived values creates doubt with the continuum model theory. The best model probably employs a combination of the discrete and continuum theories.

Synthesis and properties of amphiphilic networks 2: a differential scanning calorimetric study of poly(dodecyl methacrylate-stat-2,3 propandiol-1-methacrylate-stat-ethandiol dimethacrylate) networks and adhesion and spreading of dermal fibroblasts on these materials

A series of amphiphilic networks was prepared by radical copolymerisation of dodecyl methacrylate, 2,3-propandiol-1-methacrylate and ethandiol dimethacrylate. DSC studies on these materials, swollen in water. revealed that only materials containing more than 27 wt% of water displayed melting endotherms due to the melting of ice-like structures of water (freezing water). In materials that did produce a melting endotherm the peak was generally bimodal. Changing thermal history and heating rate did not effect the shape of the two peaks, nor the relative contribution of each peak to the total endothermic response. These observations and the narrow peak width of the low temperature endotherm suggested that the bimodality was an artefact of the DSC experiment and may be due to the promotion of the glass transition once a fraction of the water has frozen. The morphology of transformed human dermal fibroblasts grown on these materials was then examined by scanning electron microscopy. Compositions that contained only non-freezing water were found to allow cell adhesion and spreading. Cells with well-spread morphologies were obtained on materials containing small fractions of freezing water and dodecyl methacrylate. These fibroblasts displayed surface features such as microvilli and filapodia. However, all compositions of poly(2,3-propandiol-1-methacrylate-co-ethandiol dimethacrylate) (i.e. hydrogels that do not contain dodecyl methacrylate repeat units) were poor substrates for cell growth and examination of these materials showed that very few cells had adhered and those that did were highly rounded.

Structure and hydration properties of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose matrices containing naproxen and naproxen sodium

The present study was conducted to obtain a deeper insight into the mechanism of drug release from HPMC matrices. The microstructure, mobility, internal pH and the state of water within the gel layer of hydrated HPMC matrices (having different molecular weights) containing naproxen sodium (NS) and naproxen (N) were studied using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The study show that matrices composed of various viscosity grades of HPMC are characterized by similar microviscosity values in spite of the difference in their molecular weight. The NMR and DSC results led to the conclusion that higher molecular weights of HPMC are characterized by higher water absorption capacity and higher swelling. Analysis of non-freezable water in HPMC(K4M)-NS system revealed that addition of NS to solution increased the fraction of water bound to K4M+NS compared with the equivalent solutions without NS. The results suggest that the drug is participating in the crystallization of water and leads to the formation of a three dimensional network structure that decreases the freedom of water in K4M+NS samples. Calculation of the number of hydration shells showed that up to 2.2 layers are involved in HPMC-NS hydration compared to 1.5 layers for HPMC gel without NS. This was explained based on the different water ordering in the gel induced by NS as results of its absorption to polymer surface. Microviscosity values measured by EPR for K4M/N and K4M/NS hydrated matrices were found to be higher for K4M/N matrices, especially at initial stage of hydration. Mobile compartment calculations showed lower values for K4M/N compared with K4M/NS matrices. pH measurements by EPR revealed that incorporation of N to HPMC matrix led to lower internal pH value inside the hydrated tablet compared with NS. This behavior led to lower solubility of N which dictates its surface erosion mechanism, compared with NS matrix that was characterized by higher internal pH value and higher drug solubility. These properties of HPMC/NS increased chain hydration and stability, and led to drug release by the diffusion mechanism.

Variation in the diffusion and release of ribonuclease through and from esterified hyaluronic acid membranes: effect of changes in matrix characteristics

50 h) were detected for the transport and release of a model protein (ribonuclease A) compared with that for the translucent region which showed no lag time. The results highlight the importance of carefully controlling matrix formation to ensure reproducible transport and release characteristics from polymer matrices.

Composite poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) membranes as rate-controlling barriers for transdermal applications

Composite membranes were prepared by casting a linear poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) solution onto polyester non-woven supports, and then the supported pHEMA within the membranes was cross-linked by a diisocyanate cross-linking agent to form a network structure. The swelling and permeation properties of these membranes were evaluated, with a system of nitroglycerin and aqueous ethanol solution, for potential application in transdermal drug delivery. The degree of swelling of these membranes in water and aqueous ethanol decreases as the cross-linker content is increased and increases slightly with an increase in the original molecular weight of the linear pHEMA. The permeation rates of both nitroglycerin and ethanol increase as the cross-linker content is reduced, the polymer molecular weight increases, and the concentration of the casting solution or membrane thickness decreases. Depending on the preparation conditions, the membranes can be tailored to give a permeation flux ranging from 4 to 68 micrograms cm-2 h-1 for nitroglycerin.

The combined use of DSC and TGA for the thermal analysis of atenolol tablets

The New York Regional Laboratory's forensic pharmaceutical group used thermal analysis (TA) to ensure adherence to batch formulations by drug manufacturers. TA in our laboratory consisted of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). DSC and TGA were used to analyse finished dosage forms and their components. In this study the components of atenolol formulations were qualitatively identified by analysing individual components and comparing with the finished product. DSC and TGA were used together to develop a profile of batch formulations, with each analytical technique giving complementary types of information. For example, the excipient sodium starch glycolate was identified by DSC and confirmed by TGA. These experimental results demonstrated the use of TA for the characterization of finished dosage forms and the qualitative identification of some of the individual components in batch formulations.

Water mobility and structure in poly[2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate] hydrogels by means of the pulsed field gradient NMR technique

The translational mobility of water in poly[2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate] (pHEMA) hydrogels, cross-linked with ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate, was studied by means of the pulsed field gradient (PFG) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique, which offers the opportunity to study the molecular displacements directly under well-defined equilibrium conditions, resulting in a determination of the self-diffusion coefficient. It is possible to check whether coexisting water phases with different mobilities (on a timescale of ca. 10 ms) are present. The dependence of the diffusion coefficient of water on the degree of hydration and the cross-linker concentration was measured. Magnetic interaction is found to cause cross-relaxation between the protons of water and those of the polymer matrix. This affects the data, rendering the evaluation by the standard equation invalid. An equation taking cross-relaxation into account has been derived. Amplitude measurements have shown that all the water in the gels contributes to the NMR signal. The PFG measurements have shown that the total water phase in a gel diffuses as one homogeneous phase, which can be characterized by a diffusion coefficient. The self-diffusion coefficient is strongly dependent on the degree of hydration of the gel; the cross-linker concentration has no measurable effect. The strong dependence of the diffusion of water on its concentration in the gel has consequences for the modelling of the swelling and drug-release dynamics of pHEMA and necessitates a revision of the present models describing these processes.

"On-off" thermocontrol of solute transport. I. Temperature dependence of swelling of N-isopropylacrylamide networks modified with hydrophobic components in water

The swelling in water, as a function of temperature, of two series of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) polymer networks was studied. In the first series, n-butylmethacrylate (BMA) was copolymerized with NIPAAm, and in the second, polytetramethylene ether glycol (PTMEG) was incorporated into NIPAAm network as a chemically independent interpenetrating network. With increasing BMA content in the poly(NIPAAm-co-BMA) network, the gel collapse point was lowered and the gels deswelled in a more gradual manner with increasing temperature. In the interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) system, the gel collapse point was not significantly changed by the amount of incorporated PTMEG. In DSC thermograms of swollen samples, the shape and onset temperature of the endothermic peak corresponded to the gel deswelling behavior and gel collapse point. The temperature dependence of equilibrium swelling in water was shown to be a function of the gel composition in both network series. The synthesized networks formed a dense surface layer as the temperature increased past the gel collapse point. This dense layer retarded water efflux and thereby resulted in water pockets at the membrane surface.

Nuclear magnetic relaxation of water in hydrogels

Nuclear magnetic relaxation was used to investigate the dynamic behaviour of water molecules in p(HEMA) gels. Results indicate that the rotational mobility of water in p(HEMA) gels is significantly reduced compared to that in pure water. The rotational mobility was mainly determined by total degree of swelling of the gels, and not by cross-linker content. No indications were found for the presence of dynamically different types of water in these gels on a timescale of milliseconds.