title: A modified emulsion gelation technique to improve buoyancy of hydrogel tablets for floating drug delivery systems.
abstract: The use of buoyant or floating hydrogel tablets is of particular interest in the sustained release of drugs to the stomach. They have an ability to slow the release rates of drugs by prolonging their absorption window in the upper part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In this study we synthesized bioactive hydrogels that have sustainable release rates for drugs in the stomach based on a hydrogel preparation technique that employs emulsifying surfactants. The emulsion gelation technique, which encapsulates oil droplets within the hydrogels during crosslinking, was used to decrease their specific gravity in aqueous environments, resulting in floating drug release depots. Properties such as swelling, buoyancy, density and drug release were manipulated by changing the polymer concentrations, surfactant percentages and the oil:polymer ratios. The relationship between these properties and the hydrogel's floating lag time was documented. The potential for this material to be used as a floating drug delivery system was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Inter-Departmental Program for Biotechnology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: Ortal
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yom-Tov
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel; The Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.
authors.forename: Dror
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seliktar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel; The Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel. Electronic address: bianco@tx.technion.ac.il.
authors.forename: Havazelet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bianco-Peled
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004655:Emulsions / Q000737:chemistry*; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013607:Tablets / Q000737:chemistry*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D013607:Tablets; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014700:Verapamil
keywords: Drug delivery; Emulsion gelation; Floating tablets; Hydrogel