Controlled release of cytarabine from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) hydrogels.

Controlled release of cytarabine (ara-C) from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) [p(HEMA-co-VP)] hydrogels cross-linked with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) is reported. Three compositions of copolymer, each one with a different cross-linking degree, have been studied: H50/VP50, H75/VP25, and H80/VP20. Ara-C (5-25 mg by disc) was trapped in the gels by including it in the polymerization feed mixture. The ara-C release time was between 1 day from H50/VP50/E0.5 discs and 16 days from H80/VP20/E15 discs. In all cases there is a time period for which the drug release rate is constant.