Thermo‐sensitive nanogel‐laden bicontinuous microemulsion drug‐eluting contact lenses

Abstract The bicontinuous microemulsion contact lens (BMCL) has nanoporous biphasic structures (100–250 nm) that are interconnected via multiple nano‐channels, providing suitable retention of various drugs for glaucoma. Timolol maleate (TM)‐carried thermosensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanogel (30–50 nm) was incorporated into BMCLs by soaking or by centrifuging plus soaking. Here, we present drug‐loading and release in silicon‐ or polyethylene oxide‐microemulsion BMCLs under various conditions. Nanoporous BMCLs containing thermosensitive TM‐laden nanogel were capable of potent body‐temperature‐triggered release of TM. Daily drug release was controllable according to the initial volume of drug‐loaded (VDL) and loading method for sustained drug release, making them reduce drug‐loss during transportation or storage. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 107B: 1159–1169, 2019.