title: Controlled release gelatin hydrogels and lyophilisates with potential application as ocular inserts.
abstract: Hydrogels and lyophilisates were obtained by chemical crosslinking of gelatin using N-hydroxysuccinimide and N, N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride. The systems were characterized with respect to the degree of crosslinking, morphology, water uptake, in vitro drug release and biocompatibility studies. Pilocarpine hydrochloride, a drug for the treatment of glaucoma, was loaded by soaking in an aqueous solution containing the drug. In vitro, the released drug percentage varied between 29.2% and 99.2% in 8 h of study. The release data were fitted to the Korsmeyer-Peppas equation to calculate the release exponent, which indicated anomalous transport for the release of pilocarpine. The corneal endothelial cell culture tests indicated that the prepared biomaterials are not cytotoxic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Pólo II, Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mădălina V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Natu
authors.forename: José P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sardinha
authors.forename: Ilídio J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Gil
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008916:Miotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D020100:Hydrogels; D008916:Miotics; D005780:Gelatin