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Yetisgin AA, Durak S, Kutlu O, Cetinel S. Hyaluronan-Sphingosine Polymersomes for Treatment of Ocular Neovascularization: Synthesis and Evaluation. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300531. [PMID: 38318988 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Ocular neovascularization is a hallmark of several sight-threatening diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Currently, available treatments are limited and often associated with side effects. Therefore, a novel approach to ocular neovascularization treatment through utilization of polymersomes from self-assembled sphingosine-grafted hyaluronic acid (HA-Sph) amphiphilic polymers is presented. The polymersomes are generated in spherical morphologies and sizes between 97.95 - 161.9 nm with homogenous size distributions. Experiments reveal that HA-Sph polymersomes, with concentrations ≥150 µg mL-1, significantly inhibit the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), while concurrently promoting the proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial cells. The polymersomes demonstrate gradual disintegration in vitro, leading to sustained release of sphingosine, which prolongs the inhibition of HUVEC proliferation (from 87.5% at 24 h to 35.2% viability at 96 h). The efficacy of polymersomes in inhibiting angiogenesis is confirmed through tube formation assay, revealing a substantial reduction in tube length compared to the control group. The findings also validate the ocular penetration capability of polymersomes through ex vivo whole porcine eye ocular penetration study, indicating their suitability for topical administration. Potentially, HA-Sph polymersomes can be harnessed to develop intricate drug delivery systems that protect the retina and effectively treat ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abuzer Alp Yetisgin
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Materials Science and Nano-Engineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
| | - Saliha Durak
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
| | - Ozlem Kutlu
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
| | - Sibel Cetinel
- Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Program, Sabanci University, Istanbul, 34956, Turkey
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Osi B, Al-Kinani AA, Al-Qaysi ZK, Khoder M, Alany RG. Exploring the Ocular Absorption Pathway of Fasudil Hydrochloride towards Developing a Nanoparticulate Formulation with Improved Performance. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:112. [PMID: 38258122 PMCID: PMC10819904 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16010112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Rho-kinase (ROCK) inhibitors represent a new category of anti-glaucoma medications. Among them, Fasudil hydrochloride, a selective ROCK inhibitor, has demonstrated promising outcomes in glaucoma treatment. It works by inhibiting the ROCK pathway, which plays a crucial role in regulating the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm's aqueous humor outflow. This study aims to investigate the ocular absorption pathway of Fasudil hydrochloride and, subsequently, develop a nanoparticle-based delivery system for enhanced corneal absorption. Employing the ionic gelation method and statistical experimental design, the factors influencing chitosan nanoparticle (Cs NP) characteristics and performance were explored. Fasudil in vitro release and ex vivo permeation studies were performed, and Cs NP ocular tolerability and cytotoxicity on human lens epithelial cells were evaluated. Permeation studies on excised bovine eyes revealed significantly higher Fasudil permeation through the sclera compared to the cornea (370.0 μg/cm2 vs. 96.8 μg/cm2, respectively). The nanoparticle size (144.0 ± 15.6 nm to 835.9 ± 23.4 nm) and entrapment efficiency range achieved (17.2% to 41.4%) were predominantly influenced by chitosan quantity. Cs NPs showed a substantial improvement in the permeation of Fasudil via the cornea, along with slower release compared to the Fasudil aqueous solution. The results from the Hen's Egg Test Chorioallantoic Membrane (HET-CAM) and Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability (BCOP) tests indicated good conjunctival and corneal biocompatibility of the formulated chitosan nanoparticles, respectively. Lens epithelial cells displayed excellent tolerance to low concentrations of these nanoparticles (>94% cell viability). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the ocular absorption pathway of topically applied Fasudil hydrochloride where the cornea has been identified as a potential barrier that could be overcome using Cs NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barzan Osi
- Drug Discovery, Delivery and Patient Care (DDDPC) Theme, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University London, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.A.A.-K.); (Z.K.A.-Q.); (M.K.)
| | - Ali A. Al-Kinani
- Drug Discovery, Delivery and Patient Care (DDDPC) Theme, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University London, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.A.A.-K.); (Z.K.A.-Q.); (M.K.)
| | - Zinah K. Al-Qaysi
- Drug Discovery, Delivery and Patient Care (DDDPC) Theme, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University London, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.A.A.-K.); (Z.K.A.-Q.); (M.K.)
| | - Mouhamad Khoder
- Drug Discovery, Delivery and Patient Care (DDDPC) Theme, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University London, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.A.A.-K.); (Z.K.A.-Q.); (M.K.)
| | - Raid G. Alany
- Drug Discovery, Delivery and Patient Care (DDDPC) Theme, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University London, London KT1 2EE, UK; (A.A.A.-K.); (Z.K.A.-Q.); (M.K.)
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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