Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | sustained dexamethasone delivery to the retina using carbon dots-hyaluronic acid laden hybrid contact lens to manage age-related macular degeneration |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Furqan Mohammedakhter Maulvi, Uka Tarsadia University, Gujarat |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Contact info : | furqanmpc@gmail.com |
Equipments : | Hydrothermal reactor
Theta Lite Optical Tensiometer |
Details
Executive Summary : | Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic disease of retina, which is currently treated using invasive intravitreal injections or implants. The treatment strategy is very painful, patient noncompliance, expensive and not limited to subconjunctival hemorrhage. Further, drug cannot be removed if any drug-related side effects occur (e.g. increase in IOP due to steroids). Eye drop therapy failed to reach the drug at the retinal site. Thus, an alternative safe non-invasive approach is needed to deliver steroid (e.g. dexamethasone) to the posterior segment. Drug-eluting contact lenses are widely used for sustained drug delivery, but incorporation of hydrophobic drug changes the opto-physical properties. Preliminary trials indicate that the conventional soaking method shows low dexamethasone uptake (10µg uptake) and high burst release (90% dexamethasone release within 2h). While, direct dexamethasone-loading method showed reduction in the optical (60% transmission) and swelling properties (70%). In addition, hydrophobic drug-eluting contact lens also shows pink eyes due to lens dehydration at the end of the day. To overcome the above issues, the project proposes to fabricate dexamethasone-carbon dots-hyaluronic acid laden hybrid contact lens with the potential to deliver dexamethasone to the retinal tissue. The study will investigate the effect of carbon dots on opto-physical properties, dexamethasone uptake and its release kinetics from the contact lens. Carbon dots are spherical carbon nanomaterial's (5-10nm) which are non-toxic, biocompatible with abundant functional groups to conjugate with drug molecules. The presence of carbon dots inside the contact lens will improve swelling and optical transparency (prevent crystallization of drug) due to molecular adsorption of drug on the surface of carbon dots. Hyaluronic acid (HA) will be incorporated in the contact lens to impart comfort for the patient. The novel approach will not only improve the opto-physical properties of hybrid contact lens but will also sustain the release of dexamethasone to improve ocular drug bioavailability. The application of carbon dots will be the first attempt to deliver drug to the posterior segment of eye using hybrid contact lens. The objectives were set within the framework of aim. To perform preformulation studies, synthesis of carbon dots and its characterization. Fabrication of soaked and direct-dexamethasone-carbon dots-HA laden hybrid contact lens. The contact lenses will be characterized to determine their suitability for extended wear. Cytotoxicity, ocular irritation and histopathology studies will be conducted to assess lens safety. The biodistribution and efficacy (rabbit model) studies will be conducted to prove the hypothesis for dexamethasone delivery to the posterior segment of the eye. The success will demonstrate the potential of carbon-dots-hybrid contact lens to deliver dexamethasone to the posterior side of eye to treat macular degeneration. |
Co-PI: | Dr. Ditixa Trilok Desai, Uka Tarsadia University, surat, Gujarat-394350 |
Total Budget (INR): | 41,98,820 |
Organizations involved