Abstract
Purpose :
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers with encapsulated dexamethasone on alkali-injured cornea in rats.
Methods :
1. We prepared a PCL fiber mixed with dexamethasone acetate by electrospinning technique
2. Thirty-nine Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (7 weeks old males) were divided into four treatment groups after alkaline burns of the cornea; negative control (no treatment group); dexamethasone eyedrops (DEX group); PCL fiber (PCL group); dexamethasone loaded PCL (PCL/DEX group).
3. We attempted to study the therapeutic effects of the fibers on a rat model with corneal chemical burns for evaluating the re-epithelialization and neovascularization.
4. In order to confirm a more immediate anti-inflammatory response and changes over time after the injury, wester blot and qPCR anaylsis were additionally performed.
Results :
Corneal neovascularization was lower in the group treated with PCL+DEX than in that treated with DEX eyedrops, while PCL alone did not cause corneal neovascularization by irritation or inflammation. Histological analysis revealed lower infiltration of stromal inflammatory cells in corneas treated with PCL+DEX than in those treated with DEX eyedrops. Proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, MK2, TGFβ1, TGFβ2, and VEGF-A showed lower expression in corneas treated with PCL+DEX than in those treated with DEX eyedrops. Based on the results, PCL+DEX may be a promising approach to effective drug delivery in corneal burn injuries. In particular, anti-inflammatory function of DEX observed in the acute phase of ocular inflammation appears to be significantly improved on the first day in the PCL+DEX group.
Conclusions :
Although there were no statistical differences, we identified that PCL+DEX had a greater therapeutic effect than DEX eyedrop in terms of anti-inflammation in the initial treatment of corneal alkali burns within 14 days. In particular, it was shown to maximize the anti-inflammatory function of DEX in acute inflammation. Based on these results, we concluded that rapid control of inflammation with an initial application of drugs within 20 minutes before the chemicals penetrate the corneal stroma and cause inflammation throughout the cornea is a key aspect that determines the prognosis of the disease.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.