1: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):657-63. 

Treatment with triamcinolone acetonide prevents decreased retinal levels of
decorin in a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy.

Park YJ, Kim YH, Choi WS, Chung IY, Yoo JM.

Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Institute of Health Science,
Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Gyeongnam, Korea, Republic of Korea.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on retinal
expression of decorin in a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: OIR was stimulated by exposing Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats
to hyperoxia (80 +/- 1.3% O2) from postnatal day (P) 2 to P14 and then returning
them to normoxia (room air, 21 +/- 1.5% O2). Control rats were maintained in
normoxia. At P15, TA (40 mg/ml) was injected into the right vitreous of OIR rats
and saline into the left vitreous of control rats. All rats were sacrificed at
P18. RT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry, TUNEL assay were performed
to detect the effects of TA on molecular and morphological changes in retinal
decorin levels in P18 OIR rats. RESULTS: In P18 OIR rats, mRNA and protein of
retinal levels and immunoreactivity of retinal decorin were significantly less
(p-value = 0.0000000012, 0.0007, 0.000003; n = 5; respectively) than in control
rats. In addition, neuronal cell death was increased in P18 OIR rats (p-value =
0.0028; n = 5) relative to controls. However, treatment with TA prevented the
decrease of mRNA, protein levels, and immunoreactivity in retinal decorin in P18
OIR rats (p-value = 0.00023, 0.003, 0.000079; n = 5, respectively), and restored
neuronal cell death in P18 OIR rats (p-value = 0.0022, n = 5). CONCLUSION: Our
results suggest that decorin is involved in hypoxic retinal damage and that TA
protects retinal neurons damaged by relative hypoxia from decreased decorin
levels.

Publication Types:
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597652  [PubMed - in process]

2: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):651-6. 

Paradoxical improvement of visual acuity in macular disease.

Ishiko S, van de Velde F, Yoshida A.

Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan.
ishiko@asahikawa-med.ac.jp

PURPOSE: Improvement in visual acuity is often considered the best indicator of
the effectiveness of a treatment in age-related maculopathy. However, during the
course of the disease, the location of the patients' preferred retinal locus of
fixation may change. This can lead to an unexpected functional improvement,
unrelated to treatment. METHODS: From a running database of 1,369 retina
patients, we identified 116 patients over 60 years of age when age-related
maculopathy was diagnosed based on the following inclusion criteria: one study
eye with an initial acuity of the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution
(logMAR) 0.7 or worse, a fellow eye with central fixation and a follow-up period
of 3 years or more with precise documentation of the preferred retinal locus of
fixation and scotoma distribution for both eyes using scanning laser
ophthalmoscopy-based microperimetry. RESULTS: We expected an improvement in the
visual acuity in one eye (study eye) without the possibility of improvement due
to previous or concurrent treatment in that eye. Twelve patients met the
selection criteria. Over time, these patients had significant improvements in
the visual acuity in the weaker study eye, characteristically accompanied by a
concurrent decrease in visual acuity in the other eye, which initially had
better visual acuity. Moreover, in all the study eyes, an unstable
pseudo-central von Noorden fixation pattern evolved into a more stable eccentric
preferred retinal locus. CONCLUSIONS: Visual acuity remains the gold standard
for assessing visual functioning in age-related maculopathy when interpreted
with caution. Improvements in visual acuity can occur solely due to the course
of the disease in the other eye and as a result of its impact on binocular
fixation characteristics. This finding has significant implications for
low-vision rehabilitation and evaluation of various therapies in large long-term
clinical studies.

PMID: 20597651  [PubMed - in process]

3: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):644-50. 

Plasma thiols and taurine levels in central retinal vein occlusion.

Pinna A, Zinellu A, Franconi F, Carru C.

Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.
apinna@uniss.it

PURPOSE: To determine the plasma levels of the sulfur-containing amino-acids
homocysteine, cysteine, cysteinylglycine, glutamylcysteine, glutathione, and
taurine in patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and in healthy
subjects and to ascertain whether there are statistically significant
differences between patients and controls. METHODS: Laser-induced fluorescence
capillary electrophoresis was used to measure the plasma levels of homocysteine,
cysteine, cysteinylglycine, glutamylcysteine, glutathione, and taurine in 29
patients with CRVO and 80 age- and gender-matched control subjects. Wilcoxon or
Student's t-test was used, when appropriate, to determine differences between
groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the
risks for CRVO. RESULTS: CRVO patients showed significantly higher
concentrations of cysteine (p = 0.032) and significantly lower concentrations of
cysteinylglycine (p = 0.009) and taurine (p = 0.0002) than controls. Conversely,
there were no significant differences in plasma homocysteine, glutamylcysteine,
and glutathione between CRVO patients and controls. When categorized by CRVO
type (ischemic/non-ischemic), taurine was still lower in both subgroups than in
controls, whereas cysteine, cysteinylglycine, as well as homocysteine, were
significantly higher only in the ischemic subgroup. In non-ischemic CRVO,
cysteinylglycine fell just short of statistical significance (p = 0.06).
Logistic regression analysis revealed an odds ratio of 1.02 (95% confidence
interval (CI): 1.01-1.04, p = 0.001) for cysteine, 0.79 (95% CI: 0.70-0.89, p =
0.0002) for cysteinylglycine, and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.90-0.97, p = 0.002) for
taurine. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that reduced plasma levels of
cysteinylglycine and taurine may contribute to the pathogenesis of both CRVO
types. Furthermore, this study also demonstrated an association between ischemic
CRVO and higher concentrations of homocysteine and cysteine.

PMID: 20597650  [PubMed - in process]

4: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):631-43. 

Brief exposure to damaging light causes focal recruitment of macrophages, and
long-term destabilization of photoreceptors in the albino rat retina.

Rutar M, Provis JM, Valter K.

Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra ACT
0200, Australia. matt.rutar@rsbs.anu.edu.au

PURPOSE: To characterize the long-term spatiotemporal features of light-mediated
retinal degeneration. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1000 lux for
24 h, then kept in dim light (5 lux), for up to 56 days. Animals were killed at
0, 3, 7, 28, and 56 days post-exposure, and retinas were prepared for
immunohistochemistry. Outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness and TUNEL labeling
were used to quantify photoreceptor death. Antibodies to opsins, glial
fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), and ED1
were used to assess the retina. RESULTS: At 0 days post-exposure, we detected
photoreceptor death 2 mm superior to the optic disc (the "hotspot"), and
ED1-positive macrophages in the retinal vasculature and underlying choroid. By 3
days, the ONL was thinner and there was gliosis in the outer retina, where ED1
positive macrophages were also present. Few ED1 positive cells remained at 28
days. At 56 days, there were TUNEL-positive nuclei in the penumbra, and
increased FGF-2, and GFAP expression by Muller cells (MCs). In inferior retina,
outer segment length was initially reduced, but recovered to near-normal by 28
days. CONCLUSIONS: Short exposure to damaging light destabilizes the retina
adjacent to a hotspot of degeneration, so that the damaged region expands in
size over time. Recruitment of macrophages is associated with the early phase of
damage, but not with the longer term photoreceptor loss in the penumbra.
Features of the focal and progressive retinal damage in this model are
reminiscent of the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Publication Types:
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597649  [PubMed - in process]

5: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):620-30. 

alpha-Lipoic acid alters post-translational modifications and protects the
chaperone activity of lens alpha-crystallin in naphthalene-induced cataract.

Chen Y, Yi L, Yan G, Fang Y, Jang Y, Wu X, Zhou X, Wei L.

Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai,
China.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether alpha-lipoic acid (LA) inhibits lens opacity of
naphthalene-induced cataract by altering post-translational modifications (PTMs)
and protecting the chaperone activity of alpha-crystallins. METHODS: Forty-five
Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control, naphthalene, and
naphthalene plus LA. Cataracts were induced by oral administration of 1 g
naphthalene/kg body weight/day. Rats in the naphthalene plus LA group were also
fed 30 mg LA/day. The development of naphthalene-initiated cataract was
monitored every week by slit lamp microscopy for nine weeks, then the lens
proteins were separated by HPLC, and peaks corresponding to alpha-crystallins
were resolved on 2-DE. The spots of 2-DE were subjected to mass spectrometry to
identify PTMs. Chaperone activity of alpha-crystallins was measured by
heat-induced aggregation of betaL-crystallin. RESULTS: The lenses of rats fed
with naphthalene plus LA exhibited less light scattering than that fed with only
naphthalene at three weeks after treatment (P < 0.01). C-terminal truncated
alphaA crystallin was detected in naphthalene-induced cataract and was abrogated
by LA treatment. Several other post-translational modifications were identified
including methylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, carbamylation, and
oxidation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data are the first to show PTM changes induced by
naphthalene in rat lenses. Our findings also indicate that LA can inhibit
naphthalene-induced lens opacity by altering PTM and protecting the chaperone
activity of alpha-crystallins.

Publication Types:
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597648  [PubMed - in process]

6: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):605-19. 

Analysis of protein-protein interactions and proteomic profiles of normal human
lenses.

Yao Z, Yu H, Xuan D, Sha Q, Hu J, Zhang J.

Department of Ophthalmology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical
University, Shenyang, China.

PURPOSE: To investigate proteomic profiles of normal human lenses and their key
proteins in protein-protein interactions (PPIs). MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Water-soluble and water-insoluble proteins extracted from human lenses were
first separated by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel,
and then in-gel digested with trypsin into peptides eluted by reversed-phase
high-performance liquid chromatography. The eluted peptides were analyzed by
linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The raw data was filtered by
TurboSEQUEST algorithm. The reverse database was used for peptide false-positive
rate estimation. A network chart was constructed by the identified lens PPIs in
accordance with interaction database systems. RESULTS: From normal human lenses
339 proteins in total were identified, including many formerly unidentified
low-abundance proteins. Key proteins we recognized included plectin, actin,
spectrin (alpha, beta), vimentin, 14-3-3 protein (beta/alpha, zeta/delta,
epsilon, gamma, eta), TSC2, guanine nucleotide-releasing protein, laminin gamma,
mitogen-activated protein kinase, alpha-A-crystallin, heat-shock protein (alpha,
beta), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and collagen IV alpha.
CONCLUSIONS: Key proteins of normal human lenses were studied by constructing a
network chart of the identified lens PPIs. The results suggest that linear ion
trap MS/MS is an effective tool for detecting low-abundance proteins of human
lenses. This study provides valuable data for further proteomic research of the
human lens development and lens diseases.

Publication Types:
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597647  [PubMed - in process]

7: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):597-604. 

A novel mutation in the connexin 50 gene (GJA8) associated with autosomal
dominant congenital nuclear cataract in a Chinese family.

Gao X, Cheng J, Lu C, Li X, Li F, Liu C, Zhang M, Zhu S, Ma X.

Department of Genetics, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Peking
Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

PURPOSE: To identify the genetic defect in a four-generation Chinese family with
autosomal dominant congenital nuclear cataract. METHODS: Family history data
were recorded. Clinical and ophthalmologic examinations were performed on family
members. All the members were genotyped with microsatellite markers at loci
associated with cataracts. Linkage analysis was performed after genotyping.
Candidate genes were screened for mutation using direct sequencing. RESULTS:
Linkage analysis was obtained at markers D1S1653 (LOD score [Z] = 1.50,
recombination fraction [theta] = 0.0) and D1S498 (LOD score Z = 0.90,
recombination fraction [theta] = 0.0), which encompasses the connexin 50 gene
(GJA8). Sequencing the coding regions of GJA8 revealed a novel, heterozygous
c.773C > T transition that resulted in the substitution of a highly conserved
serine by phenylalanine at codon 258 (S258F). Bioinformatics analysis showed
that the mutation altered the hydrophobicity and secondary structure of the
protein. This mutation co-segregated with the disease phenotype in all affected
individuals and was not found in the unaffected family members or in 100 normal
unrelated individuals. CONCLUSIONS: This study has identified a novel missense
mutation located in the carboxyl terminus of GJA8 (S258F) associated with
autosomal dominant nuclear cataract.

Publication Types:
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597646  [PubMed - in process]

8: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):587-96. 

Evaluation of the intraocular pressure measured with the ocular response
analyzer.

Ogbuehi KC, Almubrad TM.

Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, College of Applied Medical
Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
kelechi@ksu.edu.sa

PURPOSE: Comparison of the magnitude and repeatability of the intraocular
pressure (IOP) measured with the Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA) to that measured
with the Goldmann tonometer. METHODS: Two sets of IOP measurements were made,
for 89 eyes of eighty-nine subjects, approximately 1-week apart. Goldmann
tonometry was performed subsequent to non-contact tonometry, in which the order
of measurement was randomized between the ORA and the Topcon CT80 non-contact
tonometer (CT80). Each method was assessed twice for intrasession repeatability.
The limits of agreement between each non-contact pressure and that measured with
the Goldmann tonometer were assessed once per session. The level of statistical
significance was 0.05. RESULTS: The mean differences between the ORA-corneal
compensated, Goldmann-correlated, and CT80-IOP (ORA-IOPcc; ORA-IOPg and
CT80-IOP) versus the Goldmann IOP were -0.3 +/- 2.7 mmHg (mean +/- SD), -0.3 +/-
2.2 mmHg and -0.3 +/- 2.1 mmHg, respectively for session 1 and 0.3 +/- 3.0 mmHg,
0.2 +/- 2.2 mmHg, and -0.5 +/- 2.2 mmHg, respectively, for session 2. The
repeatability coefficients were +/- 5.3 mmHg, +/- 4.2 mmHg, +/- 2.5 mmHg, and
+/- 1.9 mmHg, respectively for ORA-IOPcc, ORA-IOPg, CT80-IOP, and Goldmann IOP
in session 1 and +/- 3.8 mmHg, +/- 3.6 mmHg, +/- 1.6 mmHg, and +/- 1.9 mmHg,
respectively for session 2. CONCLUSION: The repeatability indices for the ORA
were poorer than those with the Goldmann tonometer and the CT80 in both
sessions. However, the average IOP measured with the ORA did not vary
significantly from those measured with the other two tonometers in either
session. The ORA provides valid, repeatable measures of IOP.

PMID: 20597645  [PubMed - in process]

9: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):580-6. 

Structural collagen alterations in macular corneal dystrophy occur mainly in the
posterior stroma.

Palka BP, Sotozono C, Tanioka H, Akama TO, Yagi N, Boote C, Young RD, Meek KM,
Kinoshita S, Quantock AJ.

School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United
Kingdom.

PURPOSE: Collagen fibrils in the corneal stroma in macular corneal dystrophy, on
average, are more closely spaced than in the normal cornea. This study was
conducted to investigate if this occurs uniformly across the stroma or is more
prevalent at certain stromal depths. METHODS: Microbeam synchrotron X-ray fiber
diffraction patterns were obtained in 25 microm steps across the whole thickness
of a thin strip of a macular corneal dystrophy cornea obtained at keratoplasty.
Data were analyzed for mean collagen interfibrillar spacing at all positions.
Serum was analyzed immunochemically to determine immunophenotype, and
transmission electron microscopy was carried out to visualize stromal
ultrastructure. RESULTS: Keratan sulphate was not detectable in blood serum,
classifying the disease as macular corneal dystrophy type I. Collagen
interfibrillar spacing dropped linearly with stromal depth from the anterior to
posterior cornea, measuring 5-10% less in the posterior 100 microm of the MCD
stroma compared to the anterior 100 microm (p < 0.001). Isolated pockets of
collagen fibrils with unusually large diameters were identified in the deep
stroma. CONCLUSIONS: Collagen fibril spacing is reduced and large-diameter
collagen fibrils are seen in macular corneal dystrophy type I, with the deep
stroma affected more. We speculate that the ultrastructural abnormalities are
more prevalent in the posterior stroma because the structural influence of
sulphated keratan sulphate glycosaminoglycans/proteoglycans is high in this
region of the cornea.

Publication Types:
    Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597644  [PubMed - in process]

10: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):573-9. 

Comparison of voriconazole concentration in the aqueous humor and vitreous
between non-scraped and scraped corneal epithelium groups after topical 1%
voriconazole application.

Wei LC, Tsai TC, Tsai HY, Wang CY, Shen YC.

Department of Ophthalmology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, ROC.

PURPOSE: To investigate the penetration of topical 1% voriconazole through the
cornea into the aqueous humor in New Zealand white rabbits and to determine the
effect of mechanical scraping of the corneal epithelium. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The right eyes of 29 New Zealand white rabbits were maintained with the
epithelium intact, and the left eyes underwent mechanical epithelium debridement
of the central 7.5 mm of the cornea. A loading dose consisted of a drop of 1%
voriconazole applied every 5 min for the initial half hour and followed by a
maintenance dose consisting of a drop every 20 min, which was applied for about
2 hr. Then, the first sample was obtained 5 min after the first seven doses
(loading dose) were given, and then four more samples were taken 5 min after
four more subsequent drops (maintenance dose). The samples were analyzed by high
performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The mean aqueous concentration of
voriconazole was 33.44 +/- 5.77 microg/mL 5 min after the loading dose in the
non-scraped group and 57.67 +/- 6.77 microg/mL in the scraped group,
respectively. The mean aqueous concentration of voriconazole was maintained in a
range from 19.97 to 23.70 microg/mL 5 min after the maintenance doses in the
non-scraped group and from 44.44 to 49.02 microg/ mL in the scraped group. The
mean vitreous concentration of voriconazole ranged from 0.38 to 0.49 microg/mL
in the non-scraped group and ranged from 0.72 to 0.94 microg/mL in the scraped
group. These levels were statistically significant (P < 0.05) between the
scraped and non-scraped groups. CONCLUSIONS: Topically administered voriconazole
achieved minimum inhibitory concentrations in the aqueous for all the organisms
most commonly involved in fungal endophthalmitis and achieved minimum inhibitory
concentrations in the vitreous for some pathogenic fungi. The concentrations of
voriconazole were higher in the scraped group than in the non-scraped group.

Publication Types:
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597643  [PubMed - in process]

11: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):565-72. 

Effect of borneol on the distribution of danshensu to the eye in rabbit via oral
administration.

Li Z, Sun D, Yang H, Liu X, Luan L, Bai J, Cui H.

Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical
University, Harbin, China.

PURPOSE: Both borneol and danshensu are bioactive substances derived from
traditional Chinese medicine. In this paper, the effect of borneol on the
distribution of danshensu to the eyes in rabbits via oral administration was
investigated. METHODS: The rabbits were injected danshensu (1.0 g/kg) into the
auris dextra vein 15 min after intragastric administration of borneol and the
danshensu concentrations in plasma, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor were
measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Draize test was used to
examine the eye irritation. RESULTS: Compared with the administration of
danshensu alone, danshensu concentrations co-administrated with borneol in
plasma were between 60.99 and 722.90 microg/ml. Peak times (T(max)) in both
groups appeared at 0 min; however, compared with the control group, the values
were not statistically significant although they differ (P > 0.05). The
concentrations of danshensu in aqueous humor and vitreous humor in test group
are higher than that in control group. The difference was statistically
significant (P < 0.05). T(max) in both groups appeared at 25 min. Neither
irritation nor inflammatory reaction was found during the examinations.
CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the promoting effect of borneol on the
permeability of drugs through the blood-ocular barrier in vivo is obvious, which
indicates that borneol has the potential to be used as an ocular penetration
enhancer.

Publication Types:
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597642  [PubMed - in process]

12: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):553-64. 

Performance of tear osmolarity compared to previous diagnostic tests for dry eye
diseases.

Versura P, Profazio V, Campos EC.

Ophthalmology Unit, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
piera.versura@unibo.it

PURPOSE: Tear osmolarity is considered a key point in dry eye disease (DED) and
its measurement is the gold standard in dry eye diagnosis. Tear osmolarity was
evaluated in dry eye (DE) patients vs. a control group to assess its diagnostic
performance compared to clinical and laboratory tests performed in either
clinical or research settings. METHODS: Tear osmolarity was measured with the
TearLab Osmolarity System (OcuSense) in 25 normal subjects and 105 DE patients
(severity score 1-4, Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS)). The following tests were also
performed: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) symptoms questionnaire, Schirmer
I test, Tear Film Break Up Time (TFBUT), ferning test, lissamine green staining,
tear clearance, corneal esthesiometry, and conjunctival cytology by scraping and
imprint. Statistical evaluation was performed by unpaired Student's t and
Mann-Whitney tests, the Spearman's rho and the Pearson's r correlation
coefficients (significance p < 0.05); all variables were also analyzed for
sensitivity, specificity, Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves,
likelihood ratio LR+, and positive predictive value (PPV). RESULTS: Tear
osmolarity normal values were 296.5 +/- 9.8 mOsm/L, increasing values were shown
stepwise DE severity (mild to moderate to severe dry eye, respectively: 298.1
+/- 10.6 vs. 306.7 +/- 9.5 vs. 314.4 +/- 10.1, p < 0.05). A progressive
worsening occurred in all the parameters with DED severity increase. Tear
osmolarity exhibited the larger correlation strength vs. tear clearance, TFBUT
and clinical score, strength increased with DED severity, mainly to inflammatory
score and corneal sensitivity. Tear osmolarity 305 mOsm/L was selected as
cut-off value for dry eye, 309 mOsm/L for moderate dry eye, 318 mOsm/L for
severe dry eye (Area-Under-the-Curve was 0.737, 0.759, and 0.711, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: Tear osmolarity can now be considered a test suitable to be
performed in a clinical setting. It showed a good performance in dry eye
diagnosis, higher than the other tests considered, mainly in severe dry eye.
Tear osmolarity values should be interpreted as an indicator of DED evolutionary
process to severity.

Publication Types:
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

PMID: 20597641  [PubMed - in process]

13: Curr Eye Res. 2010 Jul;35(7):537-52. 

Feasibility of lipid nanoparticles for ocular delivery of anti-inflammatory
drugs.

Souto EB, Doktorovova S, Gonzalez-Mira E, Egea MA, Garcia ML.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, Rua Carlos da Maia,
Porto, Portugal. eliana@ufp.edu.pt

Due to the multiple barriers imposed by the eye against the penetration of
drugs, the ocular delivery and targeting are considered difficult to achieve. A
major challenge in ocular drug therapy is to improve the poor bioavailability of
topically applied ophthalmic drugs by overcoming the severe constraints imposed
by the eye on drug absorption. One of the promising strategies nowadays is the
use of colloidal carrier systems characterized by a submicron-meter size. Solid
lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) represent
promising alternatives to conventional and very popular ocular carrier systems,
such as the nanoemulsions, liposomes, and polymeric nanoparticles. Nevertheless,
taking into account the characteristics of the eye, morphometrical properties of
the colloidal systems (e.g., average particle size and polydispersion) may
represent a limiting factor for topical application without induced corneal
irritation, being responsible for the selected system. This review article
focuses on the application of lipid nanoparticles (SLN, NLC) as carriers for
both non-steroidal and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of
ocular inflammatory disorders. Major benefits, as well as shortcomings, of
ocular inflammation conditions are described, in particular upon management of
inflammation induced by ocular surgery (e.g., cataracts, refractive surgery).
Particular emphasis is given to the clinical choices currently available, while
examining the most recent drugs that have been approved.

PMID: 20597640  [PubMed - in process]