New publication utilizes Polyscitech PLGA-PEG-PLGA thermogel for delivery of triamcinolone as macular degeneration treatment

PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) provides a wide array of PLGA-PEG-PLGA thermogels (AK12, AK24, AK88) for depot drug delivery applications.  Recently researchers at University of South Florida and Virginia Tech-Wake Forest utilized PolySciTech PEG-PLGA polymers (AK24) to generate a nanoparticle and thermogel based drug delivery system for administration of triamcilone. This system can be injected as a liquid into the eye and solidify leading to a biocompatible, sustained release delivery system. Read more: Hirani, Anjali, Aditya Grover, Yong W. Lee, Yashwant Pathak, and Vijaykumar Sutariya. "Triamcinolone acetonide nanoparticles incorporated in thermoreversible gels for age-related macular degeneration." Pharmaceutical Development and Technology 0 (2014): 1-7. http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10837450.2014.965326

“Abstract: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness in the US affecting millions yearly. It is characterized by intraocular neovascularization, inflammation and retinal damage which can be ameliorated through intraocular injections of glucocorticoids. However, the complications that arise from repetitive injections as well as the difficulty posed by targeting the posterior segment of the eye make this interesting territory for the development of novel drug delivery systems (DDS). In the present study, we described the development of a DDS composed of triamcinolone acetonide-encapsulated PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles (NP) incorporated into PLGA–PEG–PLGA thermoreversible gel and its use against VEGF expression characteristic of AMD. We found that the NP with mean size of 208 ± 1.0 nm showed uniform size distribution and exhibited sustained release of the drug. We also demonstrated that the polymer can be injected as a solution and transition to a gel phase based on the biological temperature of the eye. Additionally, the proposed DDS was non-cytotoxic to ARPE-19 cells and significantly reduced VEGF expression by 43.5 ± 3.9% as compared to a 1.53 ± 11.1% reduction with triamcinolone. These results suggest the proposed DDS will contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for AMD. Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration, PLGA nanoparticles, triamcinolone acetonide, thermoreversible gel, VEGF”