Effect of the crosslinking with 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate on 5-fluorouracil release from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of crosslinking density on 5-Fluorouracil release from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogels crosslinked with 1,1,1-trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TPT). PHEMA hydrogels were synthesized by bulk polymerization with different proportions of TPT (1-10 wt%) as crosslinker agent and ammonium persulphate as initiator, enabling polymerization in the feed mixture in the presence of water. As a result, 5-FU could be trapped by including it as a sodium salt in the feed mixture of polymerization. Discs with 5-FU loads between 1-16mg/disc were obtained. Swelling and 5-FU release kinetics studies were carried out in saline solution at 310K. The diffusion studies were in accordance with Pick's second law during the initial stages, enabling the diffusion coefficients of the process to be determined. The time required for discs to reach total 5-FU release was between 35h and 160h and was a function of crosslinking density of the gels and 5-FU load of the discs.