Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026
07:12
Spatio-Temporal In Vivo Imaging of Ocular Drug Delivery Systems using Fiberoptic Confocal Laser Microendoscopy
Published on: September 27, 2021
Ocular pharmacokinetic study using T₁ mapping and Gd-chelate- labeled polymers
Xianfeng Shi1, Xin Liu, Xueming Wu
1Department of Radiology Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, University of Utah, 729 Arapeen Dr., Salt Lake City, Utah 84108, USA.
Pharmaceutical Research
|June 22, 2011
Summary
Biodegradable polymers cleared faster than non-biodegradable ones in rabbit eyes, suggesting enzymatic degradation. This MRI technique is useful for studying ocular pharmacokinetics.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
Background:
- Therapeutic macromolecules are emerging for posterior eye diseases.
- Understanding their clearance and degradation in the vitreous is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate macromolecular contrast probe clearance in the vitreous using ms-DSEPI-T12 MRI.
- Examine in vivo degradation of disulfide-containing biodegradable polymers in the vitreous humor.
Main Methods:
- Intravitreal injections of contrast agents (non-biodegradable, biodegradable polymers, MultiHance) in rabbits.
- MRI was used to determine distribution and elimination from the vitreous.
Main Results:
- Macromolecular contrast agents had half-lives of 0.4-1.3 days.
- Biodegradable polymers cleared faster than non-biodegradable ones.
- Biodegradable polymers showed clearance similar to MultiHance.
Conclusions:
- T(1) mapping and ms-DSEPI-T12 MRI are effective for ocular pharmacokinetics.
- Enzymatic degradation of disulfide linkages likely causes polymer breakdown in the vitreous.
