Development of a Controlled Released System Based on IPN Types Hydrogel for Cartilage Repair

The aim of this study is to develop a controlled Fluconazole and Naproxen releasing system for cartilage repair. A series of interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) type of hydrogels were prepared by using 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and gelatin in different ratios. The hydrogels were synthesized by using ammonium persulfate (APS) and sodium metabisulfite (SBS) as initiator pair and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) as cross linkers. The prepared hydrogels were characterized via hydrogel formation and swelling/degradation measurements, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis. From swelling tests, it is observed that semi-IPN hydrogels swell much more than full-IPNs which crosslinked by two agents, EGDMA and GA. The higher ratios of HEMA/gelatin negatively affect swelling values. In general, the IPN hydrogel discs were not affected by the variation of temperature. The release studies of Fluconazole and Naproxen were performed at 37 ⁰C and it is found that the swelling and release profiles were similar to each other. The releases of drugs increase rapidly at first and then complies nearly 36 h-48 h. Because of the looser and porous structure, semi-IPN hydrogels have higher release values than full-IPNs.