title: [Intravitreal drug delivery by microspheres of biodegradable polymers].
abstract: We evaluated the efficacy of microspheres of biodegradable polymers as a slow releasing drug delivery system in the vitreous body. Microspheres containing 5-FU were prepared with polymers of poly-(lactic acid) or copolymers of glycolic acid and lactic acid. The release of the drug was studied in vitro. Poly-(lactic acid) microspheres released 5-FU for 7 days. The intravitreal kinetics of the microspheres was studied in rabbits in vivo. The microspheres disappeared from the vitreous cavity of normal eyes by 48 +/- 5 days after injection. Disappearance was accelerated from the vitreous cavity of vitrectomized rabbits (14 +/- 2 days, p less than 10(-6)). No abnormality was found on electroretinographic or histological examinations after microspheres injection. These results suggested that microspheres of biodegradable polymers could be useful as a potential drug delivery system for sustained drug release in the vitreous body.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moritera
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008863:Microspheres; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D011817:Rabbits; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007773:Lactates; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D005472:Fluorouracil