In vivo performance of a drug-eluting contact lens to treat glaucoma for a month

Citation:

Ciolino JB, Stefanescu CF, Ross AE, Salvador-Culla B, Cortez P, Ford EM, Wymbs KA, Sprague SL, Mascoop DR, Rudina SS, et al. In vivo performance of a drug-eluting contact lens to treat glaucoma for a month. BiomaterialsBiomaterialsBiomaterials. 2014;35 :432-9.

Date Published:

Jan

Abstract:

For nearly half a century, contact lenses have been proposed as a means of ocular drug delivery, but achieving controlled drug release has been a significant challenge. We have developed a drug-eluting contact lens designed for prolonged delivery of latanoprost for the treatment of glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Latanoprost-eluting contact lenses were created by encapsulating latanoprost-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) films in methafilcon by ultraviolet light polymerization. In vitro and in vivo studies showed an early burst of drug release followed by sustained release for one month. Contact lenses containing thicker drug-polymer films demonstrated released a greater amount of drug after the initial burst. In vivo, single contact lenses were able to achieve, for at least one month, latanoprost concentrations in the aqueous humor that were comparable to those achieved with topical latanoprost solution, the current first-line treatment for glaucoma. The lenses appeared safe in cell culture and animal studies. This contact lens design can potentially be used as a treatment for glaucoma and as a platform for other ocular drug delivery applications.

Notes:

Ciolino, Joseph BStefanescu, Cristina FRoss, Amy ESalvador-Culla, BorjaCortez, PriscilaFord, Eden MWymbs, Kate ASprague, Sarah LMascoop, Daniel RRudina, Shireen STrauger, Sunia ACade, FabianoKohane, Daniel S1K08EY019686-01/EY/NEI NIH HHS/GM073626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/K08 EY019686/EY/NEI NIH HHS/R01 GM073626/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/NetherlandsBiomaterials. 2014 Jan;35(1):432-9. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.09.032. Epub 2013 Oct 4.