Therapeutic Efficacy of Nanocomplex of Poly(Ethylene Glycol) and Catechin for Dry Eye Disease in a Mouse Model.
We investigated the possibility of the nanocomplex of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and catechin as a new biomedical material to treat dry eye disease.



NOD.B10.H2b mice were exposed to an air draft and injected with scopolamine for 10 days. Ten days later, the mice were treated with normal saline (n = 11), 1% catechin (n = 11), 1% PEG (n = 11), and 1% catechin/PEG nanocomplex solution mixture containing catechin and PEG at weight ratios of 1:1 (CP1, n = 11), 1:5 (CP5, n = 11), and 1:10 (CP10, n = 11). All treatments were administered five times a day for 10 days. We estimated the effect of PEG/catechin nanocomplexes on inflammation, tear production, epithelium stabilization, and goblet cell density.



Desiccation stress significantly decreased tear production and increased the corneal irregularity score. Furthermore, desiccation stress markedly increased the detached epithelium and decreased the numbers of conjunctival goblet cells. In addition, the expression of proinflammatory-related factors was markedly induced by desiccation stress in the lacrimal glands. However, the PEG/catechin nanocomplex effectively induced an increase in tear production, stabilization of the corneal epithelium, and an increase in conjunctival goblet cells and anti-inflammatory improvements in a PEG dose-dependent manner.



In this study, we found that PEG may increase bioavailability of catechin. Therefore, the PEG/catechin nanocomplex can be used as a new biomedical material to treat dry eye disease through stabilization of the tear film and inhibition of inflammation.
T2B Infrastructure Center for Ocular Diseases, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Hyesook
H
Lee
Department of Chemistry (BK21 Plus Program), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
Whuisu
W
Shim
T2B Infrastructure Center for Ocular Diseases, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea 3Department of Ophthalmology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Chae Eun
CE
Kim
T2B Infrastructure Center for Ocular Diseases, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea.
So Yeon
SY
Choi
Department of Chemistry (BK21 Plus Program) and the Graduate School of Nanoscience and Technology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea 5InnoTherapy, Inc., Yeongdrungpo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Haeshin
H
Lee
T2B Infrastructure Center for Ocular Diseases, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea 3Department of Ophthalmology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Jaewook
J
Yang
D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000378:metabolism; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D002392:Catechin