The only treatment for cataract in clinic is the clouded lens removal combined with artificial lens implantation. In this study, nifedipine (NFP), a classic vasodilator, was loaded in a U.S. FDA-approved polymer PLA-PEG to form NFP-loaded PLA-PEG micelles as a novel eye drop to prevent oxidative cataract formation and progression at the early stage. The NFP-loaded PLA-PEG micelles not only showed satisfactory biocompatibility and bioavailability, but also efficiently improved the anticataract ability through the inhibition of extracellular calcium ions influx. This study may provide a new insight into the development of cataract treatment.
Keywords: calcium channel blocker; cataract treatment; eye drop; micelles; oxidative stress.