title: Design and optimization of a novel implantation technology in contact lenses for the treatment of dry eye syndrome: In vitro and in vivo evaluation.
abstract: Contact lenses are widely used for ophthalmic drug delivery, but incorporation of drug or formulation in the contact lenses affects its optical and physical property. In the present study, we have designed a novel hyaluronic acid (HA)-laden ring implant contact lenses (modified cast moulding method), to circumvent the changes in critical lens property. The objective was to improve the ocular residence time of HA, by providing sustained ocular HA delivery through implant contact lenses for the treatment of dry eye syndrome. Optimization of HA-implant was carried out using 32factorial design by tailoring the amount of cross linker and thickness of implant, to achieve sustained HA release with constraint on effective ion diffusivity. The in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rabbit tear fluid showed sustained HA release up to 15days, by fabricating implant (80μgHA loading) with 78.4μm thickness (total thickness of lens=100μm) using 0.925% of cross linker, with effective ion diffusivity>1.5×10-6mm2/min. In vivo efficacy study in benzalkonium chloride induced dry eye syndrome rabbits showed faster healing with implant contact lenses in comparison to positive control group. The study demonstrated the promising potential of implantation technology to deliver hyaluronic acid without compromising optical and physical properties of contact lens.
  
  
  
  The limitation of contact lenses to be used as therapeutic device for controlled drug delivery is focused in this study. Incorporation of drug or formulation in the biomaterial affects the optical and physical property of contact lenses. The significance of project was to design a novel hyaluronic acid-laden ring implant contact lenses, to by-pass the changes in critical property of biomaterial.
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India. Electronic address: furqanmpc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Furqan A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Maulvi
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India.
authors.forename: Anjum A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shaikh
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India.
authors.forename: Dhara H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lakdawala
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India.
authors.forename: Ankita R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India.
authors.forename: Mihir M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pandya
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India.
authors.forename: Sulabh S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Singhania
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India.
authors.forename: Rutvi J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Vaidya
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India.
authors.forename: Ketan M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ranch
authors.affiliation: Maliba Pharmacy College, Uka Tarsadia University, Surat 394350, India.
authors.forename: Bhavin A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.affiliation: Shah-Schulman Center for Surface Science and Nanotechnology, Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad 387001, India; Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Dinesh O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D004343:Drug Implants; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D011817:Rabbits; D013666:Tears / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004343:Drug Implants; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: Contact lenses; Hyaluronic acid; Implantation; In vivo efficacy study; Optimization; Pharmacokinetic study