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Fabrication, implantation, elution, and retrieval of a steroid‐loaded polycaprolactone subretinal implant
Author(s) -
Beeley Nathan R. F.,
Rossi Juliana V.,
MelloFilho Paulo A. A.,
Mahmoud Mahmoud I.,
Fujii Gildo Y.,
de Juan Eugene,
Varner Signe E.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.30294
Subject(s) - materials science , polycaprolactone , implant , biomedical engineering , elution , drug delivery , triamcinolone acetonide , polymer , composite material , surgery , chromatography , nanotechnology , medicine , chemistry
A subretinal drug delivery system was developed to overcome the limitations of current treatments for retinal disease. A rod‐shaped implant was made by embedding the corticosteroid triamcinolone acetonide within a biodegradable polycaprolactone polymer matrix. The implant was fabricated by homogenously mixing the polymer and drug in solvent. The mixture was then dried, melted, and extruded, and the prepared solid form was drawn into a filament. The rods were mechanically sectioned to a length of 2 mm with a diameter of up to 320 μm. The rods were successfully implanted into the subretinal space of six rabbits. No complications were observed during the 4‐week follow‐up period. Initial observations of the implantation and elution characteristics revealed that polycaprolactone is well tolerated by the retinal tissue and that the implant can elute steroid for a period of at least 4 weeks without eliciting inflammatory response or complications. In vitro drug elution rates of different polymer to drug ratios and geometries into a balanced salt solution/bovine serum albumin (1%) solution showed an early rapid‐release phase and late first‐order phase. Histology and device retrieval after implantation revealed minimal encapsulation and good preservation of cellular morphology during the follow‐up period and a more fibrous polymer microstructure of the implant. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005