iridoids and Glaucoma

Genipin has been proposed as a possible neuroprotective therapy in myopia and glaucoma. Here, we aim to determine the effects of prolonged genipin-induced scleral stiffening on visual function.. Eyes from Brown Norway rats were treated in vivo with either a single 15 mM genipin retrobulbar injection or sham retrobulbar injection and were compared to naïve eyes. Intraocular pressure, optomotor response, and electroretinograms were repeatedly measured over 4 weeks following retrobulbar injections to determine visual and retinal function. At 4 weeks, we quantified retinal ganglion cell axon counts. Finally, molecular changes in gene and protein expression were analyzed via real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and proteomics.. Retrobulbar injection of genipin did not affect intraocular pressure (IOP) or retinal function, nor have a sustained impact on visual function. Although genipin-treated eyes had a small decrease in retinal ganglion cell axon counts compared to contralateral sham-treated eyes (-8,558 ± 18,646; mean ± SD), this was not statistically significant (. Posterior scleral stiffening with a single retrobulbar injection of 15 mM genipin causes no sustained deficits in visual or retinal function or at the molecular level in the retina and sclera. Retinal ganglion cell axon morphology appeared normal.. These results support future in vivo studies to determine the efficacy of genipin-induced posterior scleral stiffening to help treat ocular diseases, like myopia and glaucoma.

Topics: Animals; Glaucoma; Iridoids; Rats; Retina; Sclera

Scleral stiffening has been proposed as a therapy for glaucoma and myopia. Previous

Topics: Animals; Glaucoma; Iridoids; Male; Myopia; Rats; Sclera

to investigate the ability of drug-loaded N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels to modulate wound healing after glaucoma filtration surgery.. the drug-loaded CMCS hydrogels were in situ synthesized using genipin as the crosslinker in the presence of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or bevacizumab. Their structures were characterized by FTIR, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In-vitro drug release experiments and in vivo evaluation in rabbits were performed.. the results of FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopy and SEM analyses indicated that 5FU was encapsulated into the CMCS hydrogels that were crosslinked by genipin. The in vitro drug release experiments showed that nearly 100% of 5FU was released from the drug-loaded hydrogels within 8 h, but less than 20% bevacizumab was released after 53 h. The in vivo evaluation in rabbits indicated that the drug-loaded CMCS hydrogels were nontoxic to the cornea and were gradually biodegraded in the eyes. Furthermore, the drug-loaded CMCS hydrogels effectively inhibited conjunctival scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery and controlled postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP).. the drug-loaded CMCS hydrogels provide a great opportunity to increase the therapeutic efficacy of glaucoma filtration surgery.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Bevacizumab; Chitosan; Cicatrix; Conjunctiva; Cross-Linking Reagents; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; Female; Filtering Surgery; Fluorouracil; Glaucoma; Hydrogels; In Vitro Techniques; Intraocular Pressure; Iridoid Glycosides; Iridoids; Male; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Rabbits; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Wound Healing

Recently there have been some developments in the preparation of controlled drug delivery systems for glaucoma. Many materials are being used in this area, namely gelatine and chitosan. Both of them present high levels of biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this paper, we wish to report the work we have been doing on the preparation and characterization of hydrogels based on gelatine and chitosan. The crosslinking agents used were 1-(3-(Dimethylamino)propyl)-3-Ethylcarbodiimide hydrocholide (CDI), 1,4-Butanodiol diglycidyl ether (epoxyde 1), Ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (epoxyde 2) and genipin. The results obtained showed that all of the films were hydrogels. The surface and transversal cut showed a porous surface in all the films. The thermal analysis proved the modifications in the polymeric chains, with the stabilization of all of them by the crosslinking agents. The release pattern indicates that the gelatine films were the best since they release the adequate proportion of drug. Finally, the cytotoxicity showed that the gelatine films were all biocompatible, specially the ones crosslinked with one of the Epoxydes.

Topics: Animals; Biocompatible Materials; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Chitosan; Chlorocebus aethiops; COS Cells; Cross-Linking Reagents; Drug Carriers; Drug Delivery Systems; Gelatin; Glaucoma; Humans; Iridoid Glycosides; Iridoids; Materials Testing; Models, Biological; Wettability