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Co‐delivery of neuroprotective agents from biodegradable microspheres
Author(s) -
Rocio HerreroVanrell
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2019.5012
Subject(s) - neuroprotection , medicine , glaucoma , plga , intraocular pressure , optic nerve , pharmacology , neurodegeneration , ophthalmology , drug delivery , chemistry , pathology , disease , materials science , nanotechnology , in vitro , biochemistry
Glaucoma is considered a group of chronic eye diseases with multifactorial etiology. In this neurodegenerative disease, blindness is associated with damage to the optic nerve and retina with non‐reversible degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Several glaucomatous patients undergo intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and hypotensive agents are useful to return the IOP to normal values. However, glaucoma may progress despite IOP‐lowering treatments and neurodegeneration is still present in the patients affected. Neuroprotective therapies can be defined as pharmacological treatments related to the preservation of neuronal integrity. Because of the multifactorial and chronic characteristics of glaucoma, the applicability of neuroprotective therapies involves the use of long term combined treatments. As neuroprotection of RGCs can be approached from different pathways, co‐delivery of neuroprotective active substances emerged as a therapeutic strategy thanks to the use of PLGA microparticulate drug delivery systems. Contrary to larger devices, PLGA microspheres can be injected in the vitreous as an aqueous suspension through standard needles (27‐34 G). As PLGA is a biodegradable polymer, particles gradually disappear from the site of injection and it is not necessary to surgically eliminate them from the vitreous once the active compounds have been released.