Abstract
Purpose: :
An injectable, sustained release, biodegradable drug delivery system is needed to optimally treat a wide variety of ophthalmic diseases. Many non-biodegradable triamcinolone acetonide (TA) implants which require sutures or surgical procedures have been reported. The authors evaluated the feasibility of VerisomeTM for the sustained release of TA.
Methods: :
Two (2) VerisomeTM formulations containing triamcinolone acetonide (TA) 6.9 mg and 13.8 mg were injected into two groups of NZW rabbit vitreous, and drug levels were measured over a period of one (1) year. Drug toxicity was assessed over this same time period by ophthalmic examination and histologic examination.
Results: :
The group injected with 6.9 mg of TA demonstrated sustained levels of TA in the vitreous for up to 6 months. The mean TA vitreous level was 1.5 µg/mL. Similarly, the group initially injected with 13.8 mg TA showed sustained levels of TA in the vitreous for up to one (1) year. The mean TA vitreous level was 1.1 µg/mL. There was no evidence of toxicity as determined by clinical examination and histologic examination.
Conclusions: :
VerisomeTM is an injectable, biodegradable and effective delivery system for sustained intraocular administration of triamcinolone acetonide. The system appears well tolerated in the rabbit eye.
Keywords: vitreous • edema • corticosteroids