ANTICANCER DRUG, ARA-C, RELEASE FROM PHEMA HYDROGELS

This study investigates the controlled release of cytarabine (ara-C), an anticancer drug, from a polymeric matrix of lightly cross-linked po ly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA). The swelling of pHEMA discs i n water was analysed as a function of temperature and thickness of xer ogel discs. The fractional swelling was linear in (time)(1/2) for shor t time periods. Drug release kinetics were examined as a function of t emperature, initial drug load and thickness of pHEMA discs. The fracti on of available drug release was also linear in (time)(1/2) during the initial stages. These studies allow for the determination of diffusio n coefficients for both the transport of water into the hydrogel and a ra-C release from the polymer.