Distribution of nanoparticles in the anterior chamber of porcine eyes

Abstract

AbstractPurposeDecisive events of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) onset and progression are located in the anterior chamber of the eye. Here, the outflow of aqueous humor through the trabecular meshwork (TM) and Schlemm´s canal (SC) is severely impeded.1 Conventional therapy suffers from poor compliance, low bioavailability of drugs, and does not treat the root cause of the disease. In the past few years, targets molecules and structures were identified that are associated with pathological changes of POAG and that could potentially be exploited for causative treatment.2 To efficiently address these novel targets and bring dug molecules to the TM and SC, the development of innovative and tailor‐made drug delivery systems is a prerequisite. Therefore, the goal of this study to exploit nanoparticles of different size and surface modification regarding their efficacy to accumulate in the TM after intracameral injection.MethodsPolymer nanoparticles decorated with either hyaluronan or poly(ethylene imine) (PEI; about 250 nm) or gold nanoparticles of 5 nm were injected into the anterior chamber of enucleated porcine eyes. After 5 hr the anterior chamber was dissected and the iris, cornea, lens, the ciliary body and trabecular meshwork were analyzed either by fluorescence microscopy for polymer nanoparticles or inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP‐MS) for gold content.ResultsNanoparticles decorated with hyaluronan demonstrated a favorable mobility in the extracellular matrix and excellent accumulation in the TM.3 Gold nanoparticles of 5 nm were detected in the TM at higher amounts compared to other tissues of the anterior chamber.ConclusionNanoparticles depending on their size and surface modification are promising carriers for therapy of POAG to deliver drugs with high specificity to the TM and SC.