title: The PEG-PCL-PEG Hydrogel as an Implanted Ophthalmic Delivery System after Glaucoma Filtration Surgery; a Pilot Study.
abstract: Currently, filtration surgery has been considered as the most effective therapy for glaucoma; however, the scar formation in the surgical area may often lead to failure to the procedure. An implanted drug delivery system may provide localized and sustained release of a drug over an extended period. Poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (ε-caprolactone)-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG-PCL-PEG, PECE) hydrogel has been successfully synthesized and determined as thermosensitive and biocompatible. In order to overcome the limitations of common local ophthalmic medications, we investigated the function of a self-assembled PECE hydrogel as an intracameral injection-implanted drug carrier to inhibit the formation of postoperative scarring. Following bevacizumal-loaded hydrogel intracameral injection into rabbit eyes, the status of the bleb and filtration fistula formed following the filtering surgery were examined through pathologic evaluation. Due to the sustained release of bevacizumab from the hydrogel, neovascularization and scar formation were inhibited; moreover, there were no corneal abnormalities and other ocular tissue damage found in the rabbits. This suggests that the PECE hydrogel may be considered as the novel biomaterial with potential as a sustained release system in glaucoma filtering surgery. Further studies require in shedding the light on the subject.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology.
authors.forename: Ribo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou of Sichuan Province, 646000, China.
authors.forename: Xiabin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology.
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center ,  West China Hospital , Sichuan  University,  Chengdu ,  Sichuan  Province 610041,  China.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
keywords: Filtration Fistula; Glaucoma Filtration Surgery; Ophthalmic Delivery System; PECE Hydrogel; PEG-PCL-PEG