Dexamethasone delivery to the ocular posterior segment by sustained-release Laponite formulation

Biomed Mater. 2020 Nov 21;15(6):065021. doi: 10.1088/1748-605X/aba445.

Abstract

This paper presents a novel nanoformulation for sustained-release delivery of dexamethasone (DEX) to the ocular posterior segment using a Laponite (LAP) carrier-DEX/LAP 1:10 w w-1 formulation; 10 mg ml-1. In vivo ocular feasibility and pharmacokinetics after intravitreal (IV) and suprachoroidal (SC) administration in rabbit eyes are compared against IV administration of a DEX solution (1 mg ml-1). Thirty rabbit eyes were injected with the DEX/LAP formulation (15 suprachoroid/15 intravitreous). Ophthalmological signs were monitored at day 1 and at weeks 1-4-12-24 post-administration. Three eyes per sample time point were used to quantify DEX concentration using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The ocular tissues' pharmacokinetic parameters (lens, vitreous humour, choroid-retina unit and sclera) were studied. DEX/LAP was well tolerated under both administration methods. Peak intraocular DEX levels from the DEX/LAP were detected in the vitreous humour after both deliveries soon after administration. The vitreous area under the curve was significantly greater after both DEX/LAP deliveries (IV: 205 968.47; SC: 11 442.22 ng g-1 d-1) than after IV administration of the DEX solution (317.17 ng g-1 d-1). Intravitreal DEX/LAP delivery extended higher vitreous DEX levels up to week 24 (466.32 ± 311.15 ng g-1). With SC delivery, DEX levels were detectable in the choroid-retina unit (12.04 ± 20.85 ng g-1) and sclera (25.46 ± 44.09 ng g-1) up to week 24. This study demonstrated the intraocular feasibility of both SC and IV administration of the DEX/LAP formulation. The LAP increased the intraocular retention time of DEX when compared with conventional solutions. DEX/LAP could be considered a biocompatible and useful sustained-release formulation for treating posterior-pole eye diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Choroid / chemistry
  • Choroid / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Eye / drug effects
  • Female
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Ophthalmic Solutions / therapeutic use
  • Rabbits
  • Retina / drug effects
  • Silicates / chemistry*
  • Vitreous Body

Substances

  • Ophthalmic Solutions
  • Silicates
  • Dexamethasone
  • laponite