Design, Characterization, and Release Kinetics of a Hybrid Hydrogel Drug Delivery System for Sustained Hormone Therapy

This study presents a hybrid hydrogel system designed for the targeted delivery of letrozole, a key therapeutic agent in breast cancer treatment. Letrozole-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles were embedded within a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) matrix coated onto acrylamide-grafted low-density polyethylene (AAm-g-LDPE), yielding a mechanically stable system with tunable drug release. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and confocal microscopy confirmed uniform microparticle distribution. In vitro release studies in simulated uterine fluid (SUF) at 37 °C demonstrated a sustained release profile over 32 days, with a reduced initial burst effect (~15% lower than conventional PLGA systems). The system's release kinetics followed the Higuchi model (<i>R</i>² = 0.803-0.996), indicating Fickian diffusion. This hybrid hydrogel offers enhanced drug stability, reduced dosing frequency, and potential for personalized hormone therapy, improving patient compliance, particularly for individuals with physical or cognitive impairments.