Synthesis and mucoadhesive study of thiolated hydrogels based on 2-hydroxyethylacrylate and 2-hydroxyethylmethylacrylate copolymers

Abstract

Hydrogels and copolymers of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate and 2-hydroxyethylacrylate structured with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane nanoparticles of different composition and nanoparticles concentration have been synthesized and characterized using IR-spectroscopy, SEM, small angle X-ray scattering, compression mechanical test, thermogravimetric analysis, iodometry. Mucoadhesive properties of obtained hydrogels were investigated. Study revealed that increase in concentration of hydrophilic component, nanoparticles content and crosslinking agent concentration reflects an increase of adhesion time of obtained hydrogel materials. Drug loading and drug release studies of HEA-HEMA-MPTS samples with metronidazole were conducted. It was observed that thiolated samples absorb more drug amount than non-thiolated ones. As nanoparticles concentration increases metronidazole content rises respectively. Drug release studies revealed that the higher concentration of 3-MPTS nanoparticles in hydrogels results in prolongation of drug release but concentration of discharged metronidazole decreases.