Intravitreal Infusion of Ranibizumab with an Infusion Pump in Rabbits

Abstract

 

Purpose:

 

To evaluate intravitreal infusion of Ranibizumab in rabbitsinjected with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF-A).

 

Methods:

 

Four rabbits underwent intravitreal injection of 0.1ml of 10µg/0.1mlof VEGF-A on day 0. At day 3, all animals underwent intravitreallyinjection as follows: 1 rabbit underwent bolus injection of50µl of Ranibizumab (0.5mg/0.05ml), 2 rabbits were infusedover 30 minutes with 50µl of ranibizumab (0.5mg/0.05ml)using an external infusion pump, the fourth rabbit served asthe control and was infused with 50µl of balanced salinesolution over a period of 30 minutes. Fluorescein angiography(FA) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) were performed onday 0, 3 and 7 to assess the action of VEGF and the differentmethods of intravitreal drug delivery.

 

Results:

 

When compared against control infusion of saline, the intravitrealinfusion of Ranibizumab over a period of 30 minutes and thesingle bolus injection of Ranibizumab were more effective inreducing the effects on the retinal vasculature. Moreover, theinfusion of Ranibizumab was similar in its effect to the bolusadministration of Ranibizumab.

 

Conclusions:

 

These results show that a slower more prolonged infusion ofthe same volume and concentration of intravitreal Ranibizumabis equivalent to a bolus injection in this animal model. Furtherstudies are required to study in detail the posology of intravitrealRanibizumab administration which could guide different drugdelivery platforms.  

 

 

Keywords: retinal neovascularization