title: Topically administered gold nanoparticles inhibit experimental corneal neovascularization in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effects and mechanism of topically administered gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in a mouse model of corneal neovascularization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inflammatory corneal neovascularization was induced by alkali burns, and the corneas were treated with topical AuNPs. After 1 week, the area of corneal neovascularization was measured using image analysis. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) were evaluated by Western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The area of corneal neovascularization was significantly reduced by 39.8% in the AuNP group compared with the control group (P = 0.002). Corneal vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 level was higher in the control group than in the AuNP-treated group (P = 0.029). AuNP treatment similarly inhibited burn-induced phosphorylation of ERK (P = 0.029).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical administration of AuNPs significantly reduced development of inflammatory corneal neovascularization by inhibiting the ERK pathway.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Daejeon St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, South Korea; and †Clinical Research Institute, Daejeon St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Kyung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seungbum
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyunsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chang Rae
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rho
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006046:Gold; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053758:Nanoparticles; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3