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Author Spotlight: Decoding Corneal Neovascularization with Alkali Burn Model for Future Therapeutic Strategies
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Targeted ROS-responsive micelle-gel system for enhanced bioavailability and sustained delivery of dexamethasone in

Bo Yang1, Xiaoge Fu2, Guangyuan Zhang2

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130041, China; School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|February 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A new micelle-gel system effectively treats corneal neovascularization (CoNV) by targeting and releasing drugs in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). This targeted delivery improves drug retention and therapeutic efficacy for CoNV treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Biomaterials Science
  • Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

  • Corneal neovascularization (CoNV) presents significant therapeutic challenges due to poor ocular drug retention, inadequate targeting, and rapid clearance.
  • Existing treatments for CoNV often suffer from limited efficacy and side effects, necessitating innovative delivery strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive and integrin-targeted micelle-gel composite delivery system for enhanced ocular bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy in treating CoNV.
  • To evaluate the physicochemical properties, drug release kinetics, cellular uptake, and in vivo therapeutic effects of the developed system.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(propylene sulfide) (mPEG-PPS) and co-assembly with cRGD-PEG-PLGA to form dexamethasone-loaded hybrid micelles (cRGD-DPPMs).
  • Incorporation of cRGD-DPPMs into a hypotonic Pluronic F127 gel to create a ROS-responsive micelle-gel system (cRGD-DPPMs/Gel).
  • In vitro characterization including particle size, drug loading, encapsulation efficiency, ROS-triggered drug release, and cellular uptake studies using HUVECs. In vivo efficacy was assessed in a rat alkali burn-induced CoNV model.

Main Results:

  • The cRGD-DPPMs/Gel system exhibited favorable physicochemical properties, with a mean particle size of 144.9 nm, drug loading of 7.62%, and encapsulation efficiency of 89.74%.
  • The formulation demonstrated ROS-triggered dexamethasone release, achieving 83.17% release within 72 hours under H2O2, while providing sustained release under physiological conditions.
  • In vivo studies showed significant reduction in neovascularized area (19.04% vs. 47.62% in untreated group) and suppression of inflammatory cytokines and VEGF expression in a rat CoNV model, without increasing intraocular pressure.

Conclusions:

  • The developed ROS-responsive and integrin-targeted micelle-gel system offers a promising strategy for sustained and targeted ocular drug delivery.
  • This formulation enhances ocular bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy for corneal neovascularization, addressing key limitations of current treatments.
  • The study highlights the potential of advanced biomaterials in developing effective therapies for ocular diseases like CoNV.
Keywords:
Corneal neovascularizationHydrogelMicellesOcular drug deliveryPluronic F127

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