Abstract
Purpose :
Intra-vitreal injections for the treatment are usually at 4-8 week intervals. Treatment requiring less dosing frequency would encourage treatment compliance maximizing the therapeutic benefit. This study is to develop Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-Fab Conjugates with tunable hydrodynamic radii (Rh) to extend vitreous half-life.
Methods :
PEG has been widely used to improve the therapeutic properties of biologics. It is a synthetic polymer of ethylene oxide, soluble in both aqueous and organic solvents, is neutral, relatively non-toxic and biocompatible. Studies have shown that the vitreal half-life is proportional to the Rh (Gadkar et al, 2015, Shatz et al., 2016). We have assembled PEG-Fab conjugates with various Rh by tuning the Fab/PEG ratio.
Results :
PEG-Fab conjugates with various Rh were assembled by tuning the Fab/PEG ratio. The conjugates were characterized using high-mass MALDI, SEC-MALS and rheometry. The conjugates have MW 200-1600 kDa, with Rh ranging from 6-15nm. The conjugates all showed concentration dependent viscosity.
Conclusions :
PEG-Fab Conjugates were developed for long-acting delivery; the conjugates with Rh ranging 6-15 nm have good viscosity profiles, and are promising for ocular long-acting delivery.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.