PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of long-acting ocular implant

Intravitreal injections can be sight-saving as they are used to prevent the progression of macular degeneration and other ocular diseases. Although effective, this therapy requires repeated intra-ocular injections which is inconvenient for both patient and clinician. Recently, researchers at University of Cincinnati used PLGA (AP119) from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) to create a nanoporous implant for controlled drug delivery to the eye. This research holds promise for development of a sight-saving therapy with fewer injections. Read more: He, Xingyu, Zheng Yuan, Winston W. Kao, Daniel M. Miller, S. Kevin Li, and Yoonjee C. Park. "Size-Exclusive Nanoporous Biodegradable PLGA Capsule for Drug Delivery Implant and The In Vivo Stability In The Posterior Segment." ACS Applied Bio Materials (2020). https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsabm.0c00027

“Abstract: The current standard of care for posterior segment eye diseases such as neovascular age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema is frequent intravitreal injections or sustained-release drug implants. Intravitreal injections have a low incidence of serious complications such as retinal detachment, endophthalmitis, iatrogenic traumatic cataract, or iridocyclitis and injection-site reactions. However, there is a significant burden to the patient, the patient’s family, and the health system because current intravitreal therapies require between every 4 and 12 week administration over many years. Drug implants have side effects due to burst release of the drugs and their release cannot be easily controlled after implantation. We have developed a size-exclusive nanoporous biodegradable PLGA capsule for dosage-controllable drug delivery implants. We have optimized the nanoporous structure by tuning the ratio between porogen and high molecular weight PLGA and tested the stability against passive leakage of liposomal drug (1~2 μm) and the safety in vivo rabbit eyes for 6 months. Our results suggest that PLGA implants made of the nanoporous PLGA sheet can selectively release drug molecules, keeping the liposomal drug inside. In addition, the implant was biocompatible causing no inflammation and foreign body response when implanted for 6 months. Overall, the implant shows a great potential for on-demand dose-controllable drug release applications.”

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