Development of Nanopharmaceutical Therapy for Combat-Related Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this project is to develop anti-fibrotic therapy using pirfenidone-loaded nanoparticles to treat proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), a specific type of intraocular fibrosis, in a rabbit model of penetrating eye injury. Intraocular fibrosis after penetrating eye injury is a leading cause of vision loss among members of the armed forces, whom are vulnerable to penetrating eye injuries due to exposure to high velocity projectiles from detonations of IEDs. Current management of PVR and intraocular fibrosis involves the surgical removal of the intraocular fibrotic membrane. However, despite the 90% anatomic surgical success rate, membranes frequently regrow causing retinal detachment and vision loss, which makes PVR difficult to treat. Pirfenidone is a promising pharmaceutical agent approved for the treatment of other types of fibrosis, including pulmonary fibrosis and renal fibrosis. Although pirfenidone has been shown recently as a possible treatment for intraocular fibrosis, there are concerns associated with its dosage and number of injections. Thus, to develop pirfenidone as a clinical therapy for PVR, the delivery of the drug must be engineered as to improve its bioavailability and delivery to the posterior segment of the eye. Success of this project will be a significant advance for not only treatment of PVR, but also for the treatment of other disorders that are localized to the posterior ocular segment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1119013
Entities
People
- Heuy-ching Wang