Study of ocular transport of drugs released from a sustained release device

Delivering ocular therapeutics to a target site with minimal side effects requires detailed information about the distribution and elimination pathways. This knowledge can guide the development of new drug delivery devices. In this study, we investigated the movement of two drug surrogates, H-110, which is lipophilic, and Gd-DTPA, which is hydrophilic, released from polymer-based implants using a fluorescein technique and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also studied the pharmacokinetics of intravitreally injected triamcinolone acetonide, a low water soluble drug used for treating sight-threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).; At 24 hour post implantation, H-110 released from an intravitreal implant was detected in the subretinal space. However, following a subconjunctival implant, very little H-110 fluorescence was detected in the subretinal region. H-110 most likely reached the subretinal space from an intravitreal implant by diffusion through the vitreous and retina. However, most of the H-110 released from a subconjunctival implant is thought to dissipate through the choroidal blood flow.; Concentration profiles of Gd-DTPA, which was released from an intravitreal implant in a New Zealand white rabbit, approached pseudo-steady state within 7 to 8 hours and showed gradients at the rabbit's vitreous-retina border suggesting that diffusion was occurring into the retinal-choroidal-scleral membrane. Parametric analysis with a finite element mathematical model of the rabbit eye yielded for Gd-DTPA a diffusion coefficient of 2.8 x 10-6 cm2/sec in the vitreous and a permeability of 1.0 x 10-5 cm/sec in the composite retina-choroid-sclera membrane. Gd-DTPA concentration decreased away from the implant. Such regional concentration variations throughout the vitreous may have clinical significance when the ubiquitous eye diseases are treated using a single positional implant. Subconjunctival implants in vivo delivered a mean total of 2.7 mug of Gd-DTPA over 8 hours into the vitreous representing only 0.12% of the total amount of compound released from the implant in vitro . No Gd-DTPA was detected in the posterior segment of the eye. Ex vivo, the Gd-DTPA concentration in the vitreous was 30 fold higher suggesting the elimination of significant in vivo barriers to the movement of drugs from the subconjunctival space into the vitreous. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...