title: A minimally invasive adjustable-depth blunt injector for delivery of pharmaceuticals into the posterior pole.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility and safety of a novel minimally invasive adjustable-depth blunt injector for pharmaceuticals delivery into the posterior segment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indocyanine green (ICG), sodium fluorescein and iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were injected using the new injector into the extravascular spaces of the choroid (EVSC) compartment of rabbits and cadaver pig eyes. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus imaging and histology analysis were performed for assessment of injection safety and efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indocyanine green, fluorescein and IONPs were detected across the EVSC in rabbit eyes, covering over 80 per cent of the posterior eye surface. Injected IONPs were retained in the EVSC for at least 2 weeks following injection. No retinal detachment, choroidal haemorrhage or inflammation was detected in any of the injected eyes. In cadaver pig eyes, ICG was detected across the EVSC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel minimally invasive delivery system may be used to safely deliver large volumes of pharmaceuticals into a new treatment reservoir compartment - the EVSC which can serve as a depot, in close proximity to the retina, covering most of the surface of the back of the eye without insertion of surgical instruments under the central retina. This system is predicted to enhance the therapeutic effect of treatments for posterior eye disorders.
authors: Sheba Medical Center, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Ygal
authors: Y
authors: Rotenstreich
authors: Sheba Medical Center, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Adi
authors: A
authors: Tzameret
authors: Sheba Medical Center, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Sapir E
authors: SE
authors: Kalish
authors: Sheba Medical Center, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Ettel
authors: E
authors: Bubis
authors: Sheba Medical Center, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Belkin
authors: Sheba Medical Center, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors: Iris
authors: I
authors: Moroz
authors: Sheba Medical Center, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Mordechai
authors: M
authors: Rosner
authors: Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors: Itay
authors: I
authors: Levy
authors: Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors: Shlomo
authors: S
authors: Margel
authors: Sheba Medical Center, The Maurice and Gabriela Goldschleger Eye Institute, Tel Hashomer, Israel.|The Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Ifat
authors: I
authors: Sher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056965:Injections, Intraocular / Q000295:instrumentation; D008904:Miniaturization; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D057972:Posterior Eye Segment; D011817:Rabbits; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013552:Swine; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D019793:Fluorescein
keywords: age-related macular degeneration; diabetic retinopathy; drug delivery; nanotherapy; posterior segment; retinal degeneration; retinitis pigmentosa