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Hu Y, Weng W, Zhang Y, Zhu Y, Zhang X. Enhanced transscleral delivery using superficial ultrasound exposure and drug-loaded hydrogel. Int J Pharm 2023; 645:123359. [PMID: 37652279 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
This study employed superficial ultrasound exposure of good ocular safety and a drug-loaded hydrogel of long residence time to enable transscleral delivery. First, we designed an acoustic adaptor to limit the ultrasound exposure depth to 1.59 mm to protect the posterior eye segments. Then, we optimized the alginate/polyacrylamide ratio (3:7) of a dual-crosslinked hydrogel to enable ultrasound-triggered release of model drug (70-kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran). Using fluorescence imaging to quantify the drug release, we showed that the developed method resulted in enhanced transscleral delivery in both ex vivo porcine scleras (2.6-fold) and in vivo rabbit scleras (2.2-fold). We also demonstrated that the method increased the drug penetration depth to the whole thickness of the sclera. In particular, the drug release efficiency increased with increasing ultrasound exposure time (1 and 3 min) and intensity (8, 19, 36, and 61 mW/cm2). Using scanning electron microscopy, we revealed that ultrasound exposure resulted in rougher surfaces and microscale rupture of the hydrogel. Moreover, Masson staining of scleral slices showed that the integrity of the top scleral fibers was disturbed by ultrasound exposure, and this disturbance recovered 3 days later. Our work demonstrates that the developed method holds great potential for mediating ocular drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Hu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; National-regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Weixiong Weng
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; National-regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yuxi Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; National-regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Ying Zhu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; National-regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China; National-regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
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Duncan B, Al-Kassas R, Zhang G, Hughes D, Qiu Y. Ultrasound-Mediated Ocular Drug Delivery: From Physics and Instrumentation to Future Directions. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:1575. [PMID: 37630111 PMCID: PMC10456754 DOI: 10.3390/mi14081575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Drug delivery to the anterior and posterior segments of the eye is impeded by anatomical and physiological barriers. Increasingly, the bioeffects produced by ultrasound are being proven effective for mitigating the impact of these barriers on ocular drug delivery, though there does not appear to be a consensus on the most appropriate system configuration and operating parameters for this application. In this review, the fundamental aspects of ultrasound physics most pertinent to drug delivery are presented; the primary phenomena responsible for increased drug delivery efficacy under ultrasound sonication are discussed; an overview of common ocular drug administration routes and the associated ocular barriers is also given before reviewing the current state of the art of ultrasound-mediated ocular drug delivery and its potential future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blair Duncan
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Raida Al-Kassas
- School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Guangming Zhang
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Dave Hughes
- Novosound Ltd., Biocity, BoNess Road, Newhouse, Glasgow ML1 5UH, UK
| | - Yongqiang Qiu
- School of Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology, Liverpool John Moores University, James Parsons Building, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
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You S, Zhou H, Yang S, Wu S, Chen X, Zhang R, Chen W, Wang H, Mo X. Pulsed Ultrasound-Mediated Enhancement on Transscleral and Transconjunctival Fluorescein Sodium Delivery to Rabbit Eye In Vivo. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2023; 39:175-184. [PMID: 36930765 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2022.0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of pulsed ultrasound (PUS) in enhancing fluorescein sodium (NaF) transport to the rabbit eye through the transscleral and transconjunctival routes in vivo. Methods: PUS and NaF were applied onto the supratemporal sclera/conjunctiva of healthy rabbit eyes. PUS (1 MHz, 2.37 W/cm2, 30% duty cycle, 5-min application time) was performed 3 times with a 5-min interval. In the same process, NaF was administered to the eye without PUS in the control. NaF concentrations in the vitreous and retina-choroid were determined by fluorescence measurement. The safety of PUS application was assessed based on temperature and intraocular pressure measurements, clinical observations, electroretinography, histology, and Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling assay. Results: In comparison to the control, higher NaF concentrations were found in the retina-choroid following transscleral (2.45-fold) and transconjunctival (2.97-fold) PUS applications (P < 0.05). NaF concentrations in the vitreous were 3.15 and 5.86 times greater in transscleral and transconjunctival PUS applications, respectively, compared with those obtained without PUS application (P < 0.05), and NaF level in the vitreous after transconjunctival PUS application was 2.61 times that of transscleral PUS application (P < 0.05). Ocular findings were transient and mild conjunctival injection, with no other structural and functional changes in PUS-treated eyes. Conclusions: PUS treatment can improve transscleral and transconjunctival delivery of NaF efficiently and safely. Transscleral and transconjunctival PUS applications offer potential clinical benefit in increasing drug penetration to the posterior segments of the eye for the noninvasive treatment of ocular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqi You
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongsheng Zhou
- Shanghai Acoustics Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Shicheng Yang
- Shanghai Acoustics Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Suqian Wu
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangwu Chen
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Shanghai Acoustics Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaofen Mo
- Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University); Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Shanghai, China
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Attia SA, MacKay JA. Protein and polypeptide mediated delivery to the eye. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 188:114441. [PMID: 35817213 PMCID: PMC10049092 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid or recombinant protein-polymers, peptide-based biomaterials, and antibody-targeted therapeutics are widely explored for various ocular conditions and vision correction. They have been noted for their potential biocompatibility, potency, adaptability, and opportunities for sustained drug delivery. Unique to peptide and protein therapeutics, their production by cellular translation allows their precise modification through genetic engineering. To a greater extent than drug delivery to other systems, delivery to the eye can benefit from the combination of locally-targeted administration and protein-based specificity. Consequently, a range of delivery platforms and administration methods have been exploited to address the ocular delivery of peptide and protein biomaterials. This review discusses a sample of preclinical and clinical opportunities for peptide-based drug delivery to the eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Aly Attia
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - J Andrew MacKay
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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Almogbil HH, Montecinos-Franjola F, Daszynski C, Conlon WJ, Hachey JS, Corazza G, Rodriguez EA, Zderic V. Therapeutic Ultrasound for Topical Corneal Delivery of Macromolecules. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2022; 11:23. [PMID: 35998058 PMCID: PMC9424970 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.11.8.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The objective of this study was to utilize therapeutic ultrasound in enhancing delivery of topical macromolecules into the cornea. Methods Rabbit corneas were dissected and placed in a diffusion cell with a small ultra-red fluorescent protein (smURFP; molecular weight of 32,000 Da) as a macromolecule solution. The corneas were treated with continuous ultrasound application at frequencies of 400 or 600 kHz and intensities of 0.8 to 1.0 W/cm2 for 5 minutes, or sham-treated. Fluorescence imaging of the cornea sections was used to observe the delivery of macromolecules into individual epithelial cells. Spectrophotometric analysis at smURFP maximal absorbance of 640 nm was done to determine the presence of macromolecules in the receiver compartment. Safety of ultrasound application was studied through histology analysis. Results Ultrasound-treated corneas showed smURFP delivery into epithelial cells by fluorescence in the cytoplasm, whereas sham-treated corneas lacked any appreciable fluorescence in the individual cells. The sham group showed 0% of subcellular penetration, whereas the 400 kHz ultrasound-treated group and 600 kHz ultrasound-treated group showed 31% and 57% of subcellular penetration, respectively. Spectrophotometry measurements indicated negligible presence of smURFP macromolecules in the receiver compartment solution in both the sham and ultrasound treatment groups, and these macromolecules did not cross the entire depth of the cornea. Histological studies showed no significant corneal damage due to ultrasound application. Conclusions Therapeutic ultrasound application was shown to increase the delivery of smURFP macromolecules into the cornea. Translational Relevance Our study offers a clinical potential for a minimally invasive macromolecular treatment of corneal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanaa H. Almogbil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Camille Daszynski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - William J. Conlon
- Department of Chemistry, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Justin S. Hachey
- Department of Chemistry, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Giavanna Corazza
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Erik A. Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Vesna Zderic
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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