Nanoparticles biodistribution in the eye

Nowadays the management of ocular diseases is limited by the inability for controlled drug delivery. In the present study micro and nanoparticles based on Chitosan labeled with fluorescein, prepared by double crosslinking method in water/oil emulsion, were investigated as a new vehicle for intraocular drug delivery. The main objective was to study the biodistribution of the prepared particles after beind administered into the anterior chamber of pig eyes. Nanoparticles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy Laser Difractometry and analysis was performed by Confocal Laser Microscopy. The designed micro and nanoparticles have average size from 500 nm to 2 microm and present round shape, smooth surface, relative high dimensional poly-dispersity and relative high porosity. The particles also present good biodistribution at corneal, scleral, retinal and optic nerve level after being administered. After this eliminary phase we intend to use Chitosan based nanoparticles as a controlled drug delivery system for therapies concerning endophthalmitis, age related macular degeneration etc.