Abstract
Purpose: :
The objective of this study was to evaluate the delivery and pharmacokinetics of sodium fluorescein after suprachoroidal, intravitreal, and posterior subconjunctival injections in Sprague Dawley rats using noninvasive fluorophotometry.
Methods: :
Delivery and pharmacokinetics of sodium fluorescein was evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats (n=4) after suprachoroidal (500 ng in 5µl), intravitreal (50 ng in 5µl), or posterior subconjunctival injection (500 ng in 5µl). Sodium fluorescein levels were monitored noninvasively using Fluorotron Master™ up to 6 hours. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by noncompartmental analysis using WinNonlin.
Results: :
Sodium fluorescein delivery to choroid-retina was in the order: suprachoroidal > intravitreal > posterior subconjunctival injection. Peak concentration (Cmax; ng/ml) in the choroid-retina was the highest after suprachoroidal (1673 ± 363) injection when compared to intravitreal (103 ± 44) and posterior subconjunctival (76 ± 6) injections. The extent of delivery (AUC0-t) to the choroid-retina after suprachoroidal injection was 2- and 6- fold higher than intravitreal and posterior subconjunctival injections, respectively.
Conclusions: :
Suprachoroidal injections resulted in the highest delivery of sodium fluorescein to choroid-retina when compared to intravitreal and posterior subconjunctival injections. Noninvasive monitoring of sodium fluorescein is possible in rats using Fluorotron Master™ ocular fluorophotometry.
Keywords: choroid • sclera