March 2012
Volume 53, Issue 14
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   March 2012
Fluid Infusion Into the Corneal Stroma Using a Microneedle
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Samirkumar R. Patel
    Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Eric Powers
    Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Mark R. Prausnitz
    Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Henry F. Edelhauser
    Ophthalmology, Emory Univ Eye Center, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  Samirkumar R. Patel, 12/767,768 (P), Clearside Biomedical (E); Eric Powers, None; Mark R. Prausnitz, 12/767,768 (P), Clearside Biomedical (I); Henry F. Edelhauser, 12/767,768 (P), Clearside Biomedical (I)
  • Footnotes
    Support  R24 EYE017404, P30 06360, RPB
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science March 2012, Vol.53, 482. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      Samirkumar R. Patel, Eric Powers, Mark R. Prausnitz, Henry F. Edelhauser; Fluid Infusion Into the Corneal Stroma Using a Microneedle. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2012;53(14):482.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : Corneal infections, especially deep stromal infections, can require an aggressive therapy regimen using topically applied agents. It would be ideal to have a delivery method that can administer drug directly to the stroma to stop spread of the infection quickly without relying on patient compliance. Here, we investigate the capability of a microneedle to infuse a fluid into the corneal stroma and study the volume that can be delivered, the pressures needed for injection and the spread of injected material.

Methods: : Enucleated porcine eyes were placed in a holder and microneedles (700-800 µm in length) were inserted perpendicularly into the cornea. The needles were attached to tubing with an in-line pressure transducer connected to a computer for continuous pressure monitoring. The tubing was attached to a 1 mL syringe that was mounted onto a syringe pump. The needle was inserted near the central cornea and the pump was used to inject a target volume of sulforhodamine B into the stroma at a flow rate of 100 µL/min. Images of the cornea were taken to measure the spread of the colored dye.

Results: : Intrastromal injections of up to 300 µL were achieved in all attempts using a microneedle. The spread of the injection was radial from the site of injection and the injection of 50, 80, 100, 200 and 300 µL resulted in a spread diameter of 6.3±0.5, 6.9±1.0, 8.2±0.1, 10.0±0.5 and 11.4±0.7 mm, respectively. The pressure profile during injection reached a peak within 25-35 s after the injection was started and then dropped off. The peak pressure during all injections was between 27-32 psi. During injection of volumes between 100-300 µL, the pressure leveled off before injection was stopped. In these cases the pressure averaged between 15-20 psi. All volumes caused the cornea to expand and injection of 200-300 µL resulted in a 3-4 mm increase in thickness.

Conclusions: : This study demonstrated that a microneedle can inject up to 300 µL of fluid directly into the corneal stroma of porcine eyes. The injected fluid spread radially and a volume as small as 50 µL was able to spread significantly. Large volumes, however, caused significant corneal thickening. As a result, if minimal corneal thickening is desired, small volumes, < 50 µL should be used. This approach could be used to deliver drugs to the cornea for the treatment of corneal infections.

Keywords: cornea: stroma and keratocytes • antibiotics/antifungals/antiparasitics 
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