Ocular inserts for controlled release of antibiotics

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Materials Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Trachoma remains a leading cause of preventable blindness globally.
• Effective drug delivery systems are crucial for ocular infections.
• Antibiotic resistance necessitates novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop sustained-release ocular inserts for trachoma therapy.
• To investigate the elution characteristics of erythromycin and erythromycin estolate from hydrogel inserts.
• To evaluate the influence of hydrogel water content on drug release rates.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of hydrogel ocular inserts containing erythromycin and erythromycin estolate.
• In vitro elution studies to determine drug release kinetics.
• Varying hydrogel water content (above and below 30%) to assess its impact.
• In vivo studies using rabbit eye models were also conducted.

Main Results:

• Erythromycin estolate (low water solubility) exhibited a constant elution rate when hydrogel water content exceeded 30%.
• Erythromycin (higher water solubility) showed an elution rate dependent on hydrogel water content.
• Sustained release characteristics were achieved for both antibiotic formulations.

Conclusions:

• Hydrogel water content is a critical factor in controlling antibiotic elution from ocular inserts.
• Ocular inserts offer a promising sustained-release platform for trachoma treatment.
• Further in vivo validation is supported by initial rabbit eye studies.