title: Controlled Release of Multiple Therapeutics from Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The majority of contact lens wearers experience a significant level of ocular discomfort associated with lens wear, often within hours of wear, related to dry lenses, inflammation, protein adhesion to the lens surface, etc. Application of controlled drug release techniques has focused on the incorporation and/or release of a single comfort molecule from a lens including high molecular weight comfort agents or pharmaceutical agents. Previous studies have sought to mitigate the occurrence of only single propagators of discomfort. Clinical studies with eye drop solutions have shown that a mixture of diverse comfort agents selected to address multiple propagators of discomfort provide the greatest and longest lasting sensations of comfort for the patient. In this paper, multiple propagators of discomfort are addressed through the simultaneous release of four molecules from a novel contact lens to ensure high level of lens wear comfort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Silicone hydrogel contact lenses were engineered via molecular imprinting strategies to simultaneously release up to four template molecules including hydropropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), trehalose, ibuprofen, and prednisolone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By adjusting the ratio of functional monomer to comfort molecule, a high level of control was demonstrated over the release rate. HPMC, trehalose, ibuprofen, and prednisolone were released at therapeutically relevant concentrations with varying rates from a single lens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate use as daily disposable lenses for single day release or extended-wear lenses with multiple day release. Imprinted lenses are expected to lead to higher efficacy for patients compared to topical eye drops by improving compliance and mitigating concentration peaks and valleys associated with multiple drops.
authors.affiliation: *PhD Biomimetic & Biohybrid Materials, Biomedical Devices, & Drug Delivery Laboratories, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey (all authors).
authors.forename: Charles James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Stephen Anthony
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: DiPasquale
authors.forename: Mark Edward
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D054802:Molecular Imprinting / Q000379:methods; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D014199:Trehalose / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D011239:Prednisolone; D014199:Trehalose; D007052:Ibuprofen