Week 2

Week Two Design Proposal Background

Hydrogels

Background Articles:

Hydrogels: Methods of Preparation, Characterization and Applications 

Article Summary: Describes the methods of making hydrogels and helped us to decide if this would be possible for us to produce with the resources we have available. 

Link: http://cdn.intechopen.com/pdfs-wm/17237.pdf 

Bioresponsive hydrogels

Article Summary: Interesting article that goes in depth about the possible biomedical applications of hydrogels.

Link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369702107700494


Fabrication and Evaluation of Hydrogel Thickened Microemulsion of Ibuprofen for Topical Delivery

Article Summary: Article addressing our chosen topic. It provides information on the possibilities of combining ibuprofen and a hydrogel.

Link: http://www.ijperonline.com/april_june_2010/fabrication_and_evaluation.pdf

Microemulsion-based hydrogel formulation of ibuprofen for topical delivery.

Article Summary: Another article addressing our topic. 

Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16600540

Week Two Brainstorming

Topical Drug Delivery of Ibuprofen Through Hydrogel Micro-emulsion: Specifications

• What ibuprofen is most effective for (applied topically)?
• Muscle pain
• Arthritis
• Cramps
• What amount (dosage) is most effective?
• Depending on source of pain
• What level of pain? i.e. extra strength
• User
• Size of patch?
• Depends on dosage, rate of delivery, and pain source
• Rate of delivery?
• How does rate of delivery affect the body?
• Does the “safe” rate of delivery differ for certain areas of the body?
• For different people?
• Does rate of delivery change the effectiveness of the pain relief?
• Ease of use (commercial use)
• As easy to use as Advil
• Easy alternative to Advil
• Market?
• Kids
• Smaller dose compared to adult dose
• Smaller patch size
• Different delivery rate?
• Aesthetics
• Adults
• Everyone?
• What would prevent someone from being able to use this?
• Shape
• Does design need to be universal? i.e. Band-Aid
• Or for specific area of the body?

Week Two Research Goals

• Calcium interaction with sodium alginate 
• Identify chemical structures and reactant groups of ibuprofen
• Specifically any hydrophobic properties 
• Amount of calcium to make durable yet flexible material
• Drug dosage- percent ibuprofen by weight
• Patch material, size location
• Drexel facilities 
• UV signature of ibuprofen with UV spectroscopy
• How to measure ibuprofen in solution