Open Access

ARTICLE

Sustained Drug Release from Contact Lenses

J.A.Ferreira^2,3, P. Oliveira¹, P.M. Silva⁴, A. Carreira^5,3, J.N. Murta⁶

1 This work was partially supported by Projects: PTDC/MAT/74548/2006, UTAustin/MAT/0066/2008
2 CMUC, Department of Mathematics, University of Coimbra, Largo D. Dinis, 3001 - 454 Coimbra, Portugal
3 Email of the corresponding author: ferreira@mat.uc.pt
4 Department of Physics and Mathematics, ISEC, Rua Pedro Nunes, Quinta da Nora, 3030-199Coimbra, Portugal
5 Department of Chemical Engineering, Rua Sílvio Lima, Pólo II, 3030-790 Coimbra Portugal
6 Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3001 - 454 Coimbra, Portugal

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2010, 60(2), 151-180. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2010.060.151

Abstract

This paper focuses on the release of an ophthalmic drug (flurbiprofen) from a loaded copolymer where the drug is simultaneously dispersed in the polymeric matrix and entrapped in particles. The copolymer is based in 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate co-methacrylic acid and silicone is used to prepare the loaded particles. A mathematical model to simulate the drug release is proposed and a qualitative analysis is performed. In vitro experimental results are compared with simulation results. Contact lens made from the presented copolymer are expected to deliver drug at therapeutical levels for a few days.

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Keywords

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