Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Induction of Ocular Surface Inflammation and Collection of Involved Tissues
Published on: August 4, 2022
Tacrolimus Loaded PEG-Cholecalciferol Based Micelles for Treatment of Ocular Inflammation
Shallu Kutlehria1, Imran Vhora1, Arvind Bagde1
1College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32307, USA.
Purpose:
Poor corneal permeability, nasolacrimal drainage and requirement of chronic administration are major drawbacks of existing therapies for ocular inflammation. Hence, we designed topical micelles of PEG2000 conjugated with cholecalciferol (PEGCCF).
Methods:
Integrin targeted tacrolimus loaded PEGCCF micelles (TTM) were prepared by solvent diffusion evaporation method and characterized for particle size, osmolality, encapsulation efficiency and drug loading. Therapeutic potential of TTM was evaluated in benzalkonium chloride induced ocular inflammation model in BALB/c mice. Corneal flourescein staining and histopathological analysis of corneal sections was performed.
Results:
TTM had a particle size of 45.3 ± 5.3 nm, encapsulation efficiency (88.7 ± 0.9%w/w) and osmolality of 292-296 mOsmol/Kg. TTM significantly reduced the corneal fluorescence as compared to tacrolimus suspension (TACS). H&E staining showed that TTM could restore corneal epithelial thickness, reduce stromal edema (p < 0.05) and decrease number of inflammatory cells (p < 0.01) compared with TACS. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated lower expression of Ki67 + ve cells (p < 0.05) and IL-6 throughout the cornea against TACS (p < 0.01) and the control (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
TTM is an innovative delivery system for improving ocular inflammation due to a) integrin targeting b) PEGCCF in the form of carrier and c) anti-inflammatory and synergistic effect (due to Pgp inhibition) with TAC.
Related Concept Videos
Inflammation
Impact Loading
In cases of elastic deformation,...
Distributed Loads
For example, consider a bookshelf filled with books stacked vertically adjacent to each other. The weight of the books is evenly distributed over the length of the shelf. As a result, the pressure at different locations on the surface of the...
Eccentric Loading
Load along a Single Axis
Consider a beam of length L subjected to a varying load, which is a combination of parabolic and trapezoidal load distribution along the x-axis. In this case, it is essential to determine the resultant loads, their locations, and...
Stress: General Loading Conditions
The shearing force, possessing potential directionality within the plane of the section, is simplified into two component forces running parallel to the x and y axes....

