Biodegradable silicon nanoneedles for ocular drug delivery

Sci Adv. 2022 Apr;8(13):eabn1772. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abn1772. Epub 2022 Mar 30.

Abstract

Ocular drug delivery remains a grand challenge due to the complex structure of the eye. Here, we introduce a unique platform of ocular drug delivery through the integration of silicon nanoneedles with a tear-soluble contact lens. The silicon nanoneedles can penetrate into the cornea in a minimally invasive manner and then undergo gradual degradation over the course of months, enabling painless and long-term sustained delivery of ocular drugs. The tear-soluble contact lens can fit a variety of corneal sizes and then quickly dissolve in tear fluid within a minute, enabling an initial burst release of anti-inflammatory drugs. We demonstrated the utility of this platform in effectively treating a chronic ocular disease, such as corneal neovascularization, in a rabbit model without showing a notable side effect over current standard therapies. This platform could also be useful in treating other chronic ocular diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Contact Lenses*
  • Cornea
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Rabbits
  • Silicon* / analysis
  • Tears / chemistry

Substances

  • Silicon