A multilayered sheet-type device capable of sustained drug release and deployment control

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Ophthalmology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Minimally invasive drug delivery is crucial for chronic conditions like retinal diseases.
• Current treatments often lack sustained release or require invasive procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel sheet-type device for controlled, sustained, and minimally invasive drug delivery.
• To assess the device's ability to deliver drugs to the retina in an animal model.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a four-layered photopolymerized sheet using polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate (PEGDM) and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDM).
• Incorporation of a model drug (fluorescein) for sustained unidirectional release.
• Evaluation of device flexibility, injectability via syringe, and in vivo performance in rabbit eyes.

Main Results:

• The sheet-type device was flexible, rollable, and injectable through a small incision.
• The device successfully deployed and conformed to the rabbit eyeball curvature.
• Fluorescence was detected in retinal tissues for up to 4 weeks post-implantation, confirming sustained drug delivery.

Conclusions:

• The developed sheet-type device enables minimally invasive transplantation for sustained drug delivery.
• This technology offers a promising therapeutic approach for retinal diseases with potentially reduced side effects.