Date Approved
6-30-2020
Embargo Period
7-1-2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Biomedical Engineering
College
Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
Advisor
Byrne, Mark E.
Committee Member 1
Beachley, Vincent
Committee Member 2
Staehle, Mary
Keywords
ocular drug delivery, silicone hydrogels, biomaterials
Subject(s)
Drug delivery devices; Contact lenses
Disciplines
Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Abstract
There is a need for next generation silicone hydrogel biomaterials with greater compositional flexibility and tailorable material properties for advanced manufacturing and new applications for ocular drug delivery. Poly(DMS-R11-co-TRIS-co-DMA-co-PEG200DMA-co-DEAEM-co-DADMAC) silicone hydrogel contact lenses were synthesized with macromolecular memory and showed 7-day in vitro release of latanoprost acid via a microfluidic platform with controlled release and improved drug payload capacity compared to control lenses. Six newly synthesized silicone macromers were then incorporated into contact lens formulations for the first time to produce a novel, improved platform. Various silicone macromer structures showed significantly improved solubility with TRIS and DMA with components ranging from 0-60% by volume. A thorough analysis of these materials was done to show how the formulation composition, silicone macromer chemistry and structure, and crosslinker length and concentration affected key lens properties: optical clarity, water uptake, elastic modulus, oxygen permeability, and contact angle. This work demonstrates the potential of next-generation silicone hydrogel materials with tailorable properties and broadened potential for use as drug delivery platforms for ocular therapeutics and biomedical applications.
Recommended Citation
Wuchte, Liana D., "Synthesis and characterization of novel silicone hydrogel biomaterials with advanced properties for ocular drug delivery" (2020). Theses and Dissertations. 2826.
https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/2826
