Permeability of human amniotic membrane to ofloxacin in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to develop a model to investigate the permeability of the amniotic membrane (AM) to ofloxacin eye drops, a widely used topical antibiotic in ocular surface disease after AM transplantation.


METHODS
AM pieces on cellulose acetate filter membranes were mounted in a vertical Franz-diffusion cell system equipped with an autosampler. In vitro release of 300 mg of 3% commercially available ofloxacin ophthalmic solution was determined by quantitative absorbance measurement carried out with a UV spectrophotometer (wavelength, 287 nm). Freshly prepared and cryopreserved AMs were compared. Filter membranes without AM served as positive controls.


RESULTS
Ofloxacin was detectable in the acceptor phase 1 minute after instillation, and a gradual increase of concentration could be detected in a period of 90 minutes in all groups. At 30 minutes 3.35% +/- 2.23% of ofloxacin penetrated the freshly prepared AM, 4.35% +/- 1.8% through cryopreserved AM compared with 17.52% +/- 3.91% filter membrane alone. At 90 minutes, penetration rates of ofloxacin were 5.04% +/- 1.11%, 5.26% +/- 3.21%, and 27.91% +/- 3.05%, respectively. Difference (P > 0.05; t-test) was not significant between freshly prepared and cryopreserved AMs. Compared with control, both membranes showed significant differences (P < 0.05; t-test) at all time points.


CONCLUSIONS
The in vitro model of the Franz-diffusion cell system was found to be applicable for drug permeability studies of human amniotic membranes to water-based solutions. The filter membrane and AM were permeable to a water-based solution of ofloxacin. Significant barrier function of the AM could be measured in ofloxacin permeability. Cryopreservation did not influence the permeability of the AM.
Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. remi@szem1.sote.hu
Miklós D
MD
Resch
Béla E
BE
Resch
Eszter
E
Csizmazia
László
L
Imre
János
J
Németh
Piroska
P
Révész
Erzsébet
E
Csányi
D000650:Amnion / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015194:Diffusion Chambers, Culture; D006801:Humans; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010539:Permeability; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015242:Ofloxacin