Timolol maleate release from pH-sensible poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) hydrogels

Multifunctional polymeric materials were obtained from poly(methacrylic acid-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), to be used as a raw material in the manufacture of contact lens and as drug delivery systems. Poly(methacrylic acid-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) was prepared by free-radical polymerization in aqueous solution at 60 °C using potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator and N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) as cross-linker agent. The dynamic and equilibrium swelling properties of dry glassy poly(methacrylic acid-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) polymeric networks were studied as a function of pH and methacrylic acid (MAA) content. The water content increase as MAA content and pH increase. Timolol maleate delivery from poly(MAA) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA) homopolymers was studied and the results show a Fickian diffusion behavior.