title: INTRAOCULAR BIODISTRIBUTION OF INTRAVITREAL INJECTED FLUORESCENT DEXAMETHASONE-CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES IN RABBIT EYES.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate intraocular biodistribution of fluorescent nanoparticles composed of dexamethasone bound to chitosan after intravitreal administration in rabbit eyes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The chitosan and gelatin based nanoparticles were synthetized using a reverse emulsion-double crosslinking technique (ionic and covalent) and then dexamethasone was bound. Two units of 1% suspension of these nanoparticles in saline solution were injected intravitreally into rabbit eyes. The histologic sections obtained at 72 hours were analyzed by confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The chitosan-fluorescein conjugate bound to dexamethasone was present in all ocular tissues at 72 hours. The nanoparticles were present in the retina and lens in a larger amount than in the other ocular tissues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reverse emulsion-double crosslinking technique was efficient in synthesizing a biocompatible polymeric nanosystem. The in vivo study of intraocular biodistribution of fluorescein-marked nanoparticles capable of binding dexamethasone revealed their affinity for the retina and lens after intravitreal administration.
authors.forename: Andreea Dana
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Moraru
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costuleanu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Costin
authors.forename: Cătălina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peptu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Popa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chiseliţă
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003459:Crystallins / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003459:Crystallins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D048271:Chitosan