title: In vitro elution of vancomycin/amikacin/steroid from solvent-free biodegradable scleral plugs.
abstract: The purpose of this report was to develop solvent-free biodegradable scleral plugs for vancomycin, amikacin and dexamethasone delivery for endophthalmitis treatment. To fabricate a biodegradable plug, polylactide-polyglycolide copolymers were pre-mixed with the drugs. The mixture was then compression molded and sintered to form a scleral plug of 1.4mm in diameter. An elution method was utilized to characterize the in vitro release characteristics of the antibiotics and the steroids over a 14-day period. The HPLC analysis and bacterial inhibition test showed that biodegradable scleral plugs released a high concentration resulting in significant activity of vancomycin and amikacin (well above the minimum inhibition concentrations) and dexamethasone in vitro, for the period of time needed to treat intraocular infection. A bacterial inhibition test was carried out to determine the relative activity of the released antibiotics. The activities of the eluted vancomycin and amikacin ranged from 69% to 89% and from 66% to 88%, respectively. In addition, the experimental result suggests that one will be able to reduce the drug release rate and prolong the total release period of the plugs by adopting a lower antibiotic/steroid to polymer ratio, increasing the sintering temperature, or increasing the compression pressures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taiwan. shihjung@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Shih-Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kau
authors.forename: Chau-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Liaw
authors.forename: Yi-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000583:Amikacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D004355:Drug Stability; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D012590:Sclera; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D014640:Vancomycin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000583:Amikacin