Water based PHEMA hydrogels for controlled drug delivery

Objective: In the scope of presented work, synthesis of water based acrylate hydrogels, characterization, and their usage in controlled drug release systems were aimed to investigate. Methods: Synthesis of acrylate based hydrogels that have different properties was carried out by free radical photopolymerization using photoinitiator. Because of its high biocompatibility, 2-hydroxyethyl metacrylate (HEMA) was used as monomer. Then drug release experiments were performed in pH 7.4 and 1.2 buffer solutions with certain ionic strength while the dynamic swelling behaviors were also determined. In the last part of the work, drug activities of synthesized drug-loaded hydrogels were tested in mediums containing Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria cultures. Results: ATR-FTIR spectrums of all synthesized hydrogels were analyzed. The characteristic O-H, C-H, C=O, C-O tension vibrations bands were observed in the spectrums of the hydrogels. The rate of drug release in acidic pH 1.2 for two types of hydrogels was observed to be much faster than at pH 7.4. It was determined that hydrogel swelling ratio decrease with increasing monomer ratio. All drug loaded hydrogels were effective to inhibit the growth of both two bacterial strains. Conclusion: Hydrogels synthesized were found to be suitable for the controlled drug delivery applications.