Cataract surgery is the most common intraocular procedure. To decrease postsurgical
inflammation, prevent
infection and reduce the incidence of
secondary cataract, we built a temperature-sensitive drug delivery system carrying
dexamethasone,
moxifloxacin and
genistein nanostructured
lipid carrier (GenNLC) modified by
mPEG-PLA based on
F127/F68 as
hydrogel. Characterizations and release profiles of the drug delivery system were studied. In vitro functions were detected by
CCK-8 test, immunofluorescence, wound-healing assay, real time-PCR and western blotting. The size of GenNLCs was 39.47 ± 0.69 nm in average with surface charges of - 4.32 ± 0.84 mV. The
hydrogel gelation temperature and time were 32 °C, 20 s with a viscosity, hardness, adhesiveness and stringiness of 6.135 Pa.s, 54.0 g, 22.0 g, and 3.24 mm, respectively. Transmittance of the gel-release medium was above 90% (93.44 ± 0.33% to 100%) at range of 430 nm to 800 nm.
Moxifloxacin released completely within 10 days. Fifty percent of
dexamethasone released at a constant rate in the first week, and then released sustainably with a tapering down rate until day 30.
Genistein released slowly but persistently with a cumulative release of 63% at day 40. The thermoresponsive
hydrogel inhibited the proliferation, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of SRA 01/04 cells, which were confirmed by testing
CCK-8, wound-healing assay, western blot, real time-PCR (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence. These results support this intracameral thermoresponsive in situ multi-drug delivery system with programmed release amounts and release profiles to cut down the need of
eye drops for preventing
inflammation or
infection and to reduce posterior capsular opacification following
cataract surgery.