Composition for topical substance delivery

A method for making a specified amount of a reusable, nonbioadhesive, microporous hydrogel composition useful for hydrating or dehydrating a surface to which it is applied at a variable, controllable and customizable moisture release or moisture absorption rate and for forming the composition into a desired shape based on use of a two-part polymerization medium, two polymerizable materials, a two-part redox catalyst system for polymerization initiation, at least one humectant and fibrous filler material having known moisture absorption characteristics, comprising the steps of:

• weighing out an amount of distilled water as the first part of the polymerization medium within the range of 62% and 72% by weight of the amount of composition desired to be made;
• weighing out an amount of a low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol as the second part of the polymerization medium within the range of 0% and 11% by weight of the amount of composition desired to be made;
• combining the resulting distilled water and the resulting low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol into a mixture;
• weighing out an amount of a first, hydrophilic, acrylate-based polymerizable material within the range of 26% and 35% by weight of the amount of composition desired to be made;
• weighing out an amount of a second polymerizable material within the range of 1% and 1.8% by weight of the amount of composition desired to be made;
• adding the resulting first and second polymerizable materials to the mixture;
• weighing out an amount of the first part of the redox catalyst system within the range of 0.3% and 0.5% by weight of the amount of composition desired to be made;
• thoroughly dissolving the first part of the redox catalyst system in the mixture;
• further adding at least one humectant in the range of 0% to 15% of the desired total volume by weight of the final composition to the mixture;
• weighing out an amount of the second part of the redox catalyst system within the range of 0.1% and 0.3% by weight of the amount of composition desired to be made;
• adding the resulting second part of the redox catalyst system to the mixture;
• blending fibrous filler material into the mixture in an amount thereof which, based on the known moisture absorption characteristics of the filler, will achieve moisture saturation when mixed with the known volume of other composition elements to which it will be added;
• transferring the resultant mixture to a mold within approximately two minutes after adding the second part of the redox catalyst system to the mixture;
• removing the composition from the mold within between twenty and twenty-five minutes after adding the second part of the redox catalyst system to the mixture;
• and
• washing the molded composition in a large volume of water for a period of at least twenty-four hours.

A method for controllably increasing the rate and amount of moisture absorption of a reusable, nonbioadhesive, microporous hydrogel composition having a hydrophilic acrylate-based monomer with a range of between 26% and 35% by weight of the composition, a crosslinking agent with a range of between 1% and 1.8% by weight of the composition, AP with a range of between 0.3% and 0.5% by weight of the composition, TEMED with a range of between 0. 1% and 0.3% by weight of the composition, distilled water with a range of between 62% and 72% by weight of the composition, a low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol with a range of between 0% and 11% by weight of the composition, at least one humectant and fibrous filler material comprising any one or more of the following steps:

• adding a predetermined amount of a preselected type of at least one polar fibrous filler material to the composition prior to polymerization;
• altering the geometry of the composition so as to increase the exposed surface area in a given sample;
• and
• if pressure is applied to saturate the fibrous filler material during polymerization, reducing the amount of pressure to which the composition is subjected during polymerization.

A method for controllably decreasing the rate and amount of moisture desorption of a reusable, nonbioadhesive, microporous hydrogel composition having a hydrophilic acrylate-based monomer with a range of between 26% and 35% by weight of the composition, a crosslinking agent with a range of between 1% and 1.8% by weight of the composition, AP with a range of between 0.3% and 0.5% by weight of the composition, TEMED with a range of between 0.1% and 0.3% by weight of the composition, distilled water with a range of between 62% and 72% by weight of the composition, a low molecular weight aliphatic alcohol with a range of between 0% and 11% by weight of the composition, at least one humectant and fibrous filler material, comprising any one or more of the following steps:

• adding a predetermined amount of a preselected type of at least one polar fibrous filler material to the composition prior to polymerization;
• if pressure is applied to saturate the fibrous filler material during polymerization, increasing the amount of pressure to which the composition is subjected during polymerization;
• altering the geometry of the composition so as to decrease the number of exposed surfaces in a given sample;
• and
• infusing a larger amount of humectant into the composition.