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

摘要

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