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Poudel S, Kaffash E, Zhao L, Pangeni R, Chow WN, Xu Q. Dexamethasone sodium phosphate loaded nanoparticles for prevention of nitrogen mustard induced corneal injury. Exp Eye Res 2024; 243:109902. [PMID: 38641196 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen mustard (NM) is a potent vesicating chemical warfare agent that is primarily absorbed through skin, inhalation, or ocular surface. Ocular exposure of NM can cause acute to chronic keratopathy which can eventually lead to blindness. There is a current lack of effective countermeasures against ocular exposure of NM despite their imperative need. Herein, we aim to explore the sustained effect of Dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DSP)-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (PLGA-DSP-NP) following a single subconjunctival injection in the management and prevention of corneal injury progression upon exposure to NM. DSP is an FDA approved corticosteroid with proven anti-inflammatory properties. We formulated PLGA-DSP-NP with zinc chelation ion bridging method using PLGA polymer, with particles of approximately 250 nm and a drug loading of 6.5 wt%. Under in vitro sink conditions, PLGA-DSP-NP exhibited a sustained drug release for two weeks. Notably, in NM injured cornea, a single subconjunctival (SCT) injection of PLGA-DSP-NP outperformed DSP eyedrops (0.1%), DSP solution, placebo NP, and saline, significantly mitigating corneal neovascularization, ulceration, and opacity for the two weeks study period. Through PLGA-DSP-NP injection, sustained DSP release hindered inflammatory cytokine recruitment, angiogenic factors, and endothelial cell proliferation in the cornea. This strategy presents a promising localized corticosteroid delivery system to effectively combat NM-induced corneal injury, offering insights into managing vesicant exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagun Poudel
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Ehsan Kaffash
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Rudra Pangeni
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Woon Nam Chow
- Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Qingguo Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Center for Pharmaceutical Engineering, and Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery & Development (ISB3D), Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
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Soleimani M, Mirzaei A, Cheraqpour K, Baharnoori SM, Arabpour Z, Ashraf MJ, Ghassemi M, Djalilian AR. The Potential of Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Therapy in Mustard Keratopathy: Discovering New Roads to Combat Cellular Senescence. Cells 2023; 12:2744. [PMID: 38067171 PMCID: PMC10705954 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are considered a valuable option to treat ocular surface disorders such as mustard keratopathy (MK). MK often leads to vision impairment due to corneal opacification and neovascularization and cellular senescence seems to have a role in its pathophysiology. Herein, we utilized intrastromal MSC injections to treat MK. Thirty-two mice were divided into four groups based on the exposure to 20 mM or 40 mM concentrations of mustard and receiving the treatment or not. Mice were clinically and histopathologically examined. Histopathological evaluations were completed after the euthanasia of mice after four months and included hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), CK12, and beta-galactosidase (β-gal) staining. The treatment group demonstrated reduced opacity compared to the control group. While corneal neovascularization did not display significant variations between the groups, the control group did register higher numerical values. Histopathologically, reduced CK12 staining was detected in the control group. Additionally, β-gal staining areas were notably lower in the treatment group. Although the treated groups showed lower severity of fibrosis compared to the control groups, statistical difference was not significant. In conclusion, it seems that delivery of MSCs in MK has exhibited promising therapeutic results, notably in reducing corneal opacity. Furthermore, the significant reduction in the β-galactosidase staining area may point towards the promising anti-senescence potential of MSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Soleimani
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1336616351, Iran; (M.S.); (A.M.); (K.C.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; (S.M.B.); (Z.A.); (M.J.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Arash Mirzaei
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1336616351, Iran; (M.S.); (A.M.); (K.C.)
| | - Kasra Cheraqpour
- Eye Research Center, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1336616351, Iran; (M.S.); (A.M.); (K.C.)
| | - Seyed Mahbod Baharnoori
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; (S.M.B.); (Z.A.); (M.J.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Zohreh Arabpour
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; (S.M.B.); (Z.A.); (M.J.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Mohammad Javad Ashraf
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; (S.M.B.); (Z.A.); (M.J.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Mahmood Ghassemi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; (S.M.B.); (Z.A.); (M.J.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Ali R. Djalilian
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; (S.M.B.); (Z.A.); (M.J.A.); (M.G.)
- Cornea Service, Stem Cell Therapy and Corneal Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, 1855 W. Taylor Street, M/C 648, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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