Clinical outcomes of amniotic membrane loaded with 5-FU PLGA nanoparticles in experimental trabeculectomy

To evaluate the effect of amniotic membrane loaded with 5-fluorouracil poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (5-FU-NPs) in the surgical outcomes of experimental trabeculectomy in rabbits.

Thirty-two New Zealand white rabbits were randomly categorized into four groups with 8 rabbits in each group. Group 1, the control group, performed traditional trabeculectomy without adjuvant treatment. While the experimental groups performed compound trabeculectomy with different implantations including amniotic membrane (group 2), 5-FU-NPs (group 3) and amniotic membrane loaded with 5-FU-NPs (group 4). Clinical evaluations including IOP measurement and filtration bleb analysis were performed in all groups postoperatively.

There is no significant difference of mean IOP in all groups at first 7d after surgery. While at P14, mean IOPs of experimental group 2 (9.8±2.1 mm Hg), groups 3 (8.9±2.8 mm Hg) and group 4 (7.6±2.3 mm Hg) were significantly reduced compared to control group (12.4±2.6 mm Hg; n=8, P<0.05). At P21, mean IOPs of groups 3 (11.7±3.2 mm Hg) and group 4 (9.9±1.6 mm Hg) were significantly decreased compare to control group (17.9±1.6 mm Hg) and group 2 (16.6±2.8 mm Hg; n=8, P<0.05). At P28, mean IOPs of groups 3 (13.8±3.3 mm Hg) and group 4 (10.6±2.0 mm Hg) were also significantly reduced compare to control group (19.4±2.3 mm Hg) and group 2 (18.5±2.4 mm Hg; n=8, P<0.05). Meanwhile mean IOP of group 4 is significantly decreased compared to group 3 at P28 (n=8, P<0.05). Survival analysis of functional filtration blub in all groups revealed the longest survival time in group 4 (24.9±5.1d) compared to that in group 3 (20.6±4.3d), group 2 (15.0±5.2d) and control group (10.1±5.7d).

Amniotic membrane loaded with 5-Fu-NPs may function as an effective anti-scarring implant and provides improved long-term surgical outcomes for experimental trabeculectomy in rabbits.