Antimicrobial Silk Ocular Drug Delivery Implant for Chronic Posterior Segment Diseases
Abstract
We proposed to develop a novel, safe, and long-term drug delivery system for the eye and adnexa for treatment of chronic posterior segment diseases. Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs and corticosteroids are in widespread clinical use for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular disease. New drugs for treating chronic eye diseases are being rapidly developed. These drugs are delivered via repeated intraocular injections that not only require frequent (monthly) physician visits but also carry the risk of infections (endophthalmitis), intraocular hemorrhage, retinal detachment, and increased intraocular pressure. Development of a safe, refillable, sustained-release and long-term implantable intraocular device has the benefit of delivering constant therapeutic levels of drug directly to the site of action without the side effects of systemic or intravitreal injections. The silk based device has been successfully optimized to achieve a sustained release of anti-VEGF for more than 7 days upon application of HMPEI antibacterial treatment to prevent bacterial infection. The animal rabbit model showed excellent biointegration of the device into the ocular structure, no signs of infection and inflammation were observed over the 8-month period. Furthermore, no signs of retinal toxicity were observed upon anti-VEGF release in vivo.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1056215
Entities
People
- Chiara E. Ghezzi
- David L. Kaplan
- Irmgard Behlau
Organizations
- Tufts University