A multifunctional bilayered microstent as glaucoma drainage device.
Commercial non-degradable glaucoma implants are often associated with undesired hypotony, fibrosis, long term failure, and damage of adjacent tissues, which may be overcome by a multifunctional polymeric microstent for suprachoroidal drainage. This study reports the design and fabrication of such devices with tailorable internal diameters (50-300 μm) by solvent-free, continuous hot melt extrusion from blends of poly[(ε-caprolactone)-co-glycolide] and poly(ε-caprolactone) [PCL]. A spatially directed release was supported by bilayered microstents with an internal drug-free PCL layer, and a quantitative description of release kinetics with diclofenac sodium as model drug was provided. Furthermore, the slow degradation pattern (> 1 year) was analyzed and potential effects of 1-5 wt.% drug loading on material properties were excluded. Translational aspects including sterilization by γ-irradiation on dry ice, in vitro biocompatibility, and in vivo implantation were addressed. The promising results support further functional analysis of long-term in vivo performance and suppression of disadvantageous capsule formation.
Christian
C
Wischke
Axel T
AT
Neffe
Bui Duc
BD
Hanh
Christine F
CF
Kreiner
Katrin
K
Sternberg
Oliver
O
Stachs
Rudolf F
RF
Guthoff
Andreas
A
Lendlein
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C516442:poly(glycolide-co-caprolactone); C016240:polycaprolactone