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

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.