title: The Sustained Effects on Tear Volume of Pilocarpine Hydrochloride in Gelatin by Hydrogel Administered by An Implant-mediated Drug Delivery System.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pilocarpine hydrochloride is commonly prescribed to patients with dry mouth and eye using a frequent dosing schedule. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sustained effects of this highly soluble drug carried by a gelatin hydrogel, which was administered by an implant mediated drug delivery system (IMDDS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The IMDDS was installed in a total of 24 rabbits. After complete healing, pilocarpine hydrochloride was administered as 30 mg as raw powder (Group 1; n = 8), 30 mg in gelatin hydrogel (Group 2; n = 8), and 60 mg in gelatin hydrogel (Group 3; n = 8). The effects were evaluated by tear volume measured using the Schirmer tear test for 2 weeks after administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 3 groups showed an increase in tear volume from the initial measurement at 1 hour. Group 1 exhibited this increase for 24 hours, while Groups 2 and 3 sustained this increase for 5 days and 7.5 days, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When provided in gelatin hydrogel, highly water-soluble pilocarpine hydrochloride administered through IMDDS resulted in sustained effects with increased tear volume in normal rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States.
authors.forename: Seunghee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Anatomy, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Kyun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Seop
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kho
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Anatomy, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, P.O. Box: 03080, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005780:Gelatin; D020100:Hydrogels; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D010862:Pilocarpine; D005780:Gelatin
keywords: Dry eye; hydrogel; implant-mediated drug delivery system; osseogate; pilocarpine hydrochloride; sustained release