title: Biocompatibility and drug release behavior of chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol) corneal shield in vivo.
abstract: Backgound: Chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol corneal cap has good biocompatibility and drug slow release characteristics, which provided new treatment method for anterior segment disease. Our study was to evaluate biocompatibility of poly (vinyl alcohol)/chitosan corneal shield's intraocular and investigate its feasibility to treat ocular surface disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups. Slit lamp observation were conducted at 1, 3, 7 and 10 days after operation. Corneal and conjunctiva tissue harvested from the experimental groups was observed by HE staining 10 days after operation. The aqueous humor was aspirated from the anterior chamber at each designated time point (1, 3, 7 and 10 days). The cornea and conjunctive were collected at 10 days. The concentration of each tissue was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography and microscope observation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all groups, mild hyperemia was observed 1 day after operation, and there was no obvious inflammatory reaction occurring on the seventh and tenth day. No corneal edema and inflammatory reaction of anterior chamber occurred till the tenth day. For histopathology, there was no obviously mild chronic and inflammatory reaction occurred, and no significant difference between the corneal shield with-in groups and with-out groups. The drug concentrations in corneal and conjunctival in group (A, B) were significantly lower than eye drops in the control group (C, D), and blank corneal cover in group C was significantly sham operation in group D.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that the proposed membrane combined with ophthalmic solution has substantial potential as ocular delivery system.
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Xing
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Kai-Hui
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Nan
authors.affiliation: Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University Wenzhou 325027, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: Chitosan; biocompatibility; corneal shield; drug delivery; ocular tolerance; poly (vinyl alcohol)