Thermo-sensitive nanogel-laden bicontinuous microemulsion drug-eluting contact lenses

Abstract

The bicontinuous microemulsion contact lens (BMCL) has nanoporous biphasic structures (100-250 nm) that are interconnected via multiple nano-channels, providing suitable retention of various drugs for glaucoma. Timolol maleate (TM)-carried thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanogel (30-50 nm) was incorporated into BMCLs by soaking or by centrifuging plus soaking. Here, we present drug-loading and release in silicon- or polyethylene oxide-microemulsion BMCLs under various conditions. Nanoporous BMCLs containing thermosensitive TM-laden nanogel were capable of potent body-temperature-triggered release of TM. Daily drug release was controllable according to the initial volume of drug-loaded (VDL) and loading method for sustained drug release, making them reduce drug-loss during transportation or storage. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1159-1169, 2019.

Keywords: bicontinuous microemulsion; drug delivery; drug-eluting contact lens; nanoporous contact lens; sustained drug release; temperature-triggered drug release.