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Sustained Release of Voriconazole Using 3D-Crosslinked Hydrogel Rings and Rods for Use in Corneal Drug Delivery
Aiym Rakhmetova1, Zhiqi Yi1, Malake Sarmout1
1National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 22, 2023
Summary
New hydrogel drug delivery systems significantly improve antifungal medication penetration into the cornea, offering a promising alternative to eye drops for treating fungal keratitis and enhancing drug bioavailability.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Materials Science
- Biocompatible hydrogel development for ocular drug delivery
Background:
- Corneal disorders, particularly fungal keratitis, cause significant visual impairment globally.
- Traditional topical eye drop treatments for fungal keratitis face challenges in drug bioavailability and efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop biocompatible, 3D-crosslinked hydrogels for enhanced ophthalmic drug delivery.
- To improve the bioavailability of antifungal medications for corneal infections.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized flexible, porous hydrogels via free-radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone and 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate.
- Characterized hydrogel physicochemical properties and evaluated in vitro cytocompatibility.
- Loaded hydrogels with voriconazole and assessed drug release kinetics and ex vivo corneal penetration.
Main Results:
- Selected hydrogel exhibited excellent cytocompatibility.
- Hydrogel rings loaded with 175 mg of voriconazole demonstrated a stable zero-order release over two hours.
- Ex vivo studies showed a 10-fold increase in corneal drug penetration compared to eye drops.
Conclusions:
- Developed hydrogel drug delivery systems show potential for significantly enhancing ophthalmic drug bioavailability.
- These innovative hydrogel formulations may improve treatment outcomes for fungal keratitis, potentially reducing healthcare costs.
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