Novel Use of PLGA Microspheres to Create an Animal Model of Glaucoma with Progressive Neuroretinal Degeneration

Pharmaceutics

Jesus Ruberte¹  Aina Bonet¹  Teresa Martinez-Rincon²  Manuel Subias²  Silvia Mendez-Martinez²  Julian Garcia-Feijoo³  Rocío Herrero-Vanrell³  David Garcia-Herranz³  Irene Bravo-Osuna³  MariaJesus Rodrigo⁴  Luis Pablo⁴  Elena Garcia-Martin⁴ 

[1] Center for Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy (CBATEG), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain;Department of Ophthalmology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain;Innovation, Therapy and Pharmaceutical Development in Ophthalmology (InnOftal) Research Group, UCM, 28040 Madrid, Spain;Thematic Research Network in Ophthalmology (Oftared), Carlos III National Institute of Health, 28040 Madrid, Spain;

关键词: PLGA microspheres;    intraocular pressure;    glaucoma animal model;    intracameral injection;    optic nerve;    neurodegeneration;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pharmaceutics13020237

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Progressive degeneration of neuroretinal tissue with maintained elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) to simulate chronic glaucoma was produced by intracameral injections of poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) microspheres (Ms) in rat eyes. The right eye of 39 rats received different sizes of PLGA-Ms (2 µL suspension; 10% w/v): 14 with 38–20 µm Ms (Ms38/20 model) and 25 with 20–10 µm particles (Ms20/10 model). This novel glaucoma animal model was compared to the episcleral vein sclerosis (EPI) model (25 eyes). Injections were performed at baseline, two, four and six weeks. Clinical signs, IOP, retina and optic nerve thicknesses (using in vivo optical coherence tomography; OCT), and histological studies were performed. An IOP increment was observed in all three groups, however, the values obtained from the PLGA-Ms injection resulted lower with a better preservation of the ocular surface. In fact, the injection of Ms20/10 created a gentler, more progressive, and more sustained increase in IOP. This IOP alteration was correlated with a significant decrease in most OCT parameters and in histological ganglion-cell count for the three conditions throughout the eight-week follow-up. In all cases, progressive degeneration of the retina, retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve, simulating chronic glaucoma, was detected by OCT and corroborated by histological study. Results showed an alternative glaucoma model to the well-known episcleral vein model, which was simpler to perform, more reproducible and easier to monitor in vivo.

【 授权许可】

Unknown