Surface modification of an intraocular lens material by plasma-assisted grafting with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), for controlled release of moxifloxacin

Abstract

Endophthalmitis, an inflammation of the eye due to perioperative infection, may occur after cataract surgery. Intraocular lenses (IOLs) loaded with an antibiotic have been proposed asan alternative to the conventional postoperative endophthalmitis prophylaxis, since the antibiotic is delivered directly to the target site. In this work, an IOL-based antibiotic releasing system was prepared from a copolymer used in the production of IOLs and a fluoroquinolone used in endophthalmitis prophylaxis (moxifloxacin, MFX). Argon plasma-assisted grafting with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) in the presence of MFX was the approach selected for surface modification, with MFX loaded both by entrapment in the grafted polyHEMA coating and by soaking. Surface and bulk properties were evaluated before and after surface modification and the MFX release profiles were obtained both in batch mode (sink conditions) and under hydrodynamic conditions, employing a purpose-built microfluidic cell, which simulated the hydrodynamic conditions around the eye lens. The effect of storage on the release profile of the best system was also assessed. The best system released MFX for ca. 15days above the minimum inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The released MFX showed antimicrobial activity against these bacteria and was non-cytotoxic against corneal endothelial cells.

Providing Antibacterial Activity to Poly(2-Hydroxy Ethyl Methacrylate) by Copolymerization with a Methacrylic Thiazolium Derivative

“…Concerning hydrophilic polymer materials, poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) is one of the most widely used in the manufacture of medical devices, such as contact and intraocular lenses, and medical device coatings [26,27], because it exhibits blood and cell biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and thrombogenicity [28,29]. In addition, a variety of antimicrobial agents has been included into hydrogels and materials based on PHEMA to provide biocidal character as an additional property [26,30,31,32]. Herein, we prepared copolymers systems composed of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and a methacrylic monomer bearing thiazolium moieties (MTARI) with the purpose of incorporating antimicrobial properties into PHEMA.…”

<p>Anti-Adhesive And Antiproliferative Synergistic Surface Modification Of Intraocular Lens For Reduced Posterior Capsular Opacification</p>

“…Almost all the IOL material investigations for PCO prevention focused on the surface hydrophilic modification 9,23–27. The aim of these surface hydrophilic modifications was to decrease the residual LEC adhesion after IOL implantation.…”

Therapeutic Ophthalmic Lenses: A Review

“…LbL coatings were tested as barriers to the release of diclofenac, moxifloxacin, ketorolac, or chlorhexidine [70], but only diclofenac evidenced a slower release after the modification. Plasma-assisted grafting with HEMA [71] or 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid [66] in the presence of moxifloxacin resulted in a 15-day drug release above the therapeutic concentration, which is comparable to the common duration of the prophylactic treatment that is required after surgery. The incorporation of drug reservoirs in the implanted IOL was first suggested between 2006 and 2008 [27,117].…”

“…Several methods have been suggested to produce coatings on drug-eluting biomedical devices (e.g., layer-by-layer deposition, spray coating, dip coating, plasma-assisted grafting) with the purpose of implementing drug-eluting reservoirs [64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73]. Besides, these coatings may be used in order to increase the hydrophilicity of the device surface [74] and, also, as diffusion barriers to drug release [75][76][77].…”