Thermogelling PLGA-PEG-PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of doxorubicin delivery system to prevent posterior capsule opacification

After surgical repairs made to the eye including cornea transplant or cataracts removal there are instances in which scar tissue grows along the ocular lense components leading to cloudiness or haze which reduces vision in the patient. Recently, researchers at Rowan University used thermogelling PLGA-PEG-PLGA (cat# AK097) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) to create a gel for controlled delivery of nucleic-acid nanocarriers of doxorubicin to prevent posterior capsule opacification (PCO). This research may assist in preserving sight after surgical repair. Read more: Osorno, Laura L., Robert J. Mosley, Patricia L. Poley, Jessica Bowers, Grzegorz Gorski, Jacquelyn Gerhart, Robert Getts, Mindy George-Weinstein, and Mark E. Byrne. "Sustained Release of Antibody-Conjugated DNA Nanocarriers from a Novel Injectable Hydrogel for Targeted Cell Depletion to Treat Cataract Posterior Capsule Opacification." Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (2022). https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/jop.2021.0111

“Abstract: Purpose: To compare a novel, sustained release formulation and a bolus injection of a targeted nanocarrier for the ability to specifically deplete cells responsible for the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) in week-long, dynamic cell cultures. Methods: A novel, injectable, thermosensitive poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) triblock copolymer hydrogel was engineered for the sustained release of targeted, nucleic acid nanocarriers loaded with cytotoxic doxorubicin (G8:3DNA:Dox). Human rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells were used due to their expression of brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1), a specific marker for the myofibroblasts responsible for PCO. Under constant media flow, nanocarriers were injected into cell cultures as either a bolus or within the hydrogel. Cells were fixed and stained every other day for 7 days to compare targeted depletion of BAI1+ cells. Results: The formulation transitions to a gel at physiological temperatures, is optically clear, noncytotoxic, and can release G8:3DNA:Dox nanocarriers for up to 4 weeks. In RD cell cultures, G8:3DNA:Dox nanocarriers specifically eliminated BAI1+ cells. The bolus nanocarrier dose showed significantly reduced cell depletion overtime, while the sustained release of nanocarriers showed increased cell depletion over time. By day 7, <2% of BAI1+ cells were depleted by the bolus injection and 74.2% BAI1+ cells were targeted by the sustained release of nanocarriers. Conclusions: The sustained release of nanocarriers from the hydrogel allows for improved therapeutic delivery in a dynamic system. This method can offer a more effective and efficient method of prophylactically treating PCO after cataract surgery.”