title: Modeling the drug release from hydrogel-based matrices.
abstract: In this work the behavior of hydrogel-based matrices, the most widespread systems for oral controlled release of pharmaceuticals, has been mathematically described. In addition, the calculations of the model have been validated against a rich set of experimental data obtained working with tablets made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (a hydrogel) and theophylline (a model drug). The model takes into account water uptake, hydrogel swelling, drug release, and polymer erosion. The model was obtained as an improvement of a previous code, describing the diffusion in concentrated systems, and obtaining the erosion front (which is a moving boundary) from the polymer mass balance (in this way, the number of fitting parameters was also reduced by one). The proposed model was found able to describe all the observed phenomena, and then it can be considered a tool with predictive capabilities, useful in design and testing of new dosage systems based on hydrogels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering and ‡Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno , via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caccavo
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cascone
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.forename: Anna Angela
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barba
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013806:Theophylline / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D013806:Theophylline
keywords: controlled release; hydrogels; modeling; swelling; transport phenomena