Fabrication Of Drug-loaded Punctal Plug And Study On Its Properties

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to fabricate drug loading electrospun microcapsule and investigate its ability in adjusting drug loading amount. Crosslinked HA hydrosol was prepared under different conditions, and the effect of crosslinking agents with different amount on the crosslinked hydrosol was investigated. Further investigation was performed to study the releasing properties through drug loaded model plugs. At last, the compatibility of the crosslinked hydrosol system was studied, which will establish an substantial foundation for the manufacture of controlled releasing punctal plug.MethodsModel drug Ofloxacin (OFL), were added into the chitosan (Chi)/PolyEthylene Oxide (PEO) blends respectively. The collecting solution was0.6%HA solution. After adjusting all the electrospinning parameters, eletrospun productions were collected and then characterized. Different concentrations of crosslinking agents were also added to the HA hydrosol with microcapsules for evaluating the rheological properties. Several groups of drug loaded model plugs were prepared from different conditions to observe the controlled releasing properties. Samples were fetched at different time point and measured by UV-Spectrophotometer, after which cumulative releasing rates were calculated. Leaching liquor of the microcapsules-crosslinked hydrosol system was used to culture the corneal epithelium cells to evaluate the biocompatibility of the microcapsule hydrosols. MTT method was also employed for the biocompatibility evaluation.ResultsModel drug Ofloxacin (OFL), were added into the chitosan (Chi)/PolyEthylene Oxide (PEO) blends respectively, and drug loaded microcapsules were fabricated successfully. The amount of crosslinking agents had an clear effect on the crosslinking degree of the crosslinked hydrosol. While comparing the performance of the electrospinnig group and the non-eletrospinning group (mechanical stirring group) with different crosslinking degree (Low, High and None) through drug loaded model plugs, encouraging results were showed that electrospinning group manifest greater controlled releasing ability than the contrast group, and model plugs with higher crosslinking degree display lower drug releasing speed. Leaching liquor of microcapsules-crosslinked hydrosol system was used to culture corneal epithelium cells and were measured by MTT method which showed the biocompatibility belong to grade1according to the national standard, implying a fine biocompatibility.ConclusionThis study first demonstrated the feasibility of electrospinning-modified solution colleting method to fabricate drug loaded microcapsules via mixing different drugs into the Chi/PEO blends. The releasing profile of drug loaded model plugs were also studied and showed a controlled releasing capability. The evaluating test of biomaterials biocompatibility also testified the fine biocompatibility of the microcapsules-crosslinked hydrosol system, which allow a further study on the punctal plug for dry eye disease.