Development of 3D printed biodegradable polymer-based drug delivery implants for post cataract surgery treatment

Cataracts affect millions of people worldwide; surgery and intensive post-operative care are the current standard of treatment. However, ocular barriers to drug delivery often impede recovery after surgery. This study proposes a potential solution to enhance post-cataract care by developing a biodegradable, controlled-release implant using 3D printing technology and follows the guidelines given by the All-India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS). The implant was designed to be placed into the capsular bag of the eye during the surgery and employs Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as a drug carrier, delivering a combination of drugs such as Dexamethasone (DEX), Moxifloxacin (MOX), and Nepafenac (NEPA) directly into the eye. Two sets of drugs loaded implants were prepared, namely DEX-MOX-PLGA and NEPA-PLGA to mimic the conventional administration of corresponding eye drops used in post-operative management. A two-step process involving hot-melt extrusion and 3D printing, was utilised to prepare these implants. The prepared implants were characterised and the in vitro results aligned with the clinically prescribed regimens. The prepared implants were able to overcome the challenges like consistency of size and the in vitro release profile which were encountered in the previously published hot-melt extrusion only study. This approach demonstrates the feasibility of combining cataract surgery with post-operative drug delivery in a single procedure. The implants provided sustained drug release profiles consistent with clinical dosing regimens and were well substantiated in in vivo rabbit model, supporting their potential to improve patient compliance and recovery in future therapeutic applications.