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Ilochonwu BC, van der Lugt SA, Annala A, Di Marco G, Sampon T, Siepmann J, Siepmann F, Hennink WE, Vermonden T. Thermo-responsive Diels-Alder stabilized hydrogels for ocular drug delivery of a corticosteroid and an anti-VEGF fab fragment. J Control Release 2023; 361:334-349. [PMID: 37532147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, a novel in situ forming thermosensitive hydrogel system was investigated as a versatile drug delivery system for ocular therapy. For this purpose, two thermosensitive ABA triblock copolymers bearing either furan or maleimide moieties were synthesized, named respectively poly(NIPAM-co-HEA/Furan)-PEG6K-P(NIPAM-co-HEA/Furan) (PNF) and poly(NIPAM-co-HEA/Maleimide)-PEG6K-P(NIPAM-co-HEA/-Maleimide) (PNM). Hydrogels were obtained upon mixing aqueous PNF and PNM solutions followed by incubation at 37 °C. The hydrogel undergoes an immediate (<1 min) sol-gel transition at 37 °C. In situ hydrogel formation at 37 °C was also observed after intravitreal injection of the formulation into an ex vivo rabbit eye. The hydrogel network formation was due to physical self-assembly of the PNIPAM blocks and a catalyst-free furan-maleimide Diels-Alder (DA) chemical crosslinking in the hydrophobic domains of the polymer network. Rheological studies demonstrated sol-gel transition at 23 °C, and DA crosslinks were formed in time within 60 min by increasing the temperature from 4 to 37 °C. When incubated at 37 °C, these hydrogels were stable for at least one year in phosphate buffer of pH 7.4. However, the gels degraded at basic pH 10 and 11 after 13 and 3 days, respectively, due to hydrolysis of ester bonds in the crosslinks of the hydrogel network. The hydrogel was loaded with an anti-VEGF antibody fragment (FAB; 48.4 kDa) or with corticosteroid dexamethasone (dex) by dissolving (FAB) or dispersing (DEX) in the hydrogel precursor solution. The FAB fragment in unmodified form was quantitatively released over 13 days after an initial burst release of 46, 45 and 28 % of the loading for the 5, 10 and 20 wt% hydrogel, respectively, due to gel dehydration during formation. The low molecular weight drug dexamethasone was almost quantitively released in 35 days. The slower release of dexamethasone compared to the FAB fragment can likely be explained by the solubilization of this hydrophobic drug in the hydrophobic domains of the gel. The thermosensitive gels showed good cytocompatibility when brought in contact with macrophage-like mural cells (RAW 264.7) and human retinal pigment epithelium-derived (ARPE-19) cells. This study demonstrates that PNF-PNM thermogel may be a suitable formulation for sustained release of bioactive agents into the eye for treating posterior segment eye diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blessing C Ilochonwu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, PO box 80082, 3508, TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Simone A van der Lugt
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, PO box 80082, 3508, TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ada Annala
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, PO box 80082, 3508, TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Greta Di Marco
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, PO box 80082, 3508, TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Thibault Sampon
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, PO box 80082, 3508, TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Juergen Siepmann
- University of Lille, College of Pharmacy, 3 Rue du Prof. Laguesse, 59006 Lille, France; INSERM U 1008, Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and Biomaterials, 3 Rue du Prof. Laguesse, 59006 Lille, France
| | - Florence Siepmann
- University of Lille, College of Pharmacy, 3 Rue du Prof. Laguesse, 59006 Lille, France; INSERM U 1008, Controlled Drug Delivery Systems and Biomaterials, 3 Rue du Prof. Laguesse, 59006 Lille, France
| | - Wim E Hennink
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, PO box 80082, 3508, TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tina Vermonden
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, PO box 80082, 3508, TB, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Itkonen J, Annala A, Tavakoli S, Arango-Gonzalez B, Ueffing M, Toropainen E, Ruponen M, Casteleijn MG, Urtti A. Characterization, Stability, and in Vivo Efficacy Studies of Recombinant Human CNTF and Its Permeation into the Neural Retina in ex Vivo Organotypic Retinal Explant Culture Models. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12070611. [PMID: 32629980 PMCID: PMC7408322 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12070611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is one of the most studied neuroprotective agents with acknowledged potential in treating diseases of the posterior eye segment. Although its efficacy and mechanisms of action in the retina have been studied extensively, it is still not comprehensively understood which retinal cells mediate the therapeutic effects of CNTF. As with therapeutic proteins in general, it is poorly elucidated whether exogenous CNTF administered into the vitreous can enter and distribute into the retina and hence reach potentially responsive target cells. Here, we have characterized our purified recombinant human CNTF (rhCNTF), studied the protein’s in vitro bioactivity in a cell-based assay, and evaluated the thermodynamic and oligomeric status of the protein during storage. Biological activity of rhCNTF was further evaluated in vivo in an animal model of retinal degeneration. The retinal penetration and distribution of rhCNTF after 24 h was studied utilizing two ex vivo retina models. Based on our characterization findings, our rhCNTF is correctly folded and biologically active. Moreover, based on initial screening and subsequent follow-up, we identified two buffers in which rhCNTF retains its stability during storage. Whereas rhCNTF did not show photoreceptor preservative effect or improve the function of photoreceptors in vivo, this could possibly be due to the used disease model or the short duration of action with a single intravitreal injection of rhCNTF. On the other hand, the lack of in vivo efficacy was shown to not be due to distribution limitations; permeation into the retina was observed in both retinal explant models as in 24 h rhCNTF penetrated the inner limiting membrane, and being mostly observed in the ganglion cell layer, distributed to different layers of the neural retina. As rhCNTF can reach deeper retinal layers, in general, having direct effects on resident CNTF-responsive target cells is plausible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaakko Itkonen
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; (S.T.); (M.G.C.)
- Correspondence: (J.I.); (A.U.)
| | - Ada Annala
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.A.); (E.T.); (M.R.)
- Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Science, Utrecht University, David de Wiedgebouw, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Shirin Tavakoli
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; (S.T.); (M.G.C.)
| | - Blanca Arango-Gonzalez
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 7, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany; (B.A.-G.); (M.U.)
| | - Marius Ueffing
- Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Elfriede-Aulhorn-Strasse 7, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany; (B.A.-G.); (M.U.)
| | - Elisa Toropainen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.A.); (E.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Marika Ruponen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.A.); (E.T.); (M.R.)
| | - Marco G. Casteleijn
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; (S.T.); (M.G.C.)
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd., Solutions for Natural Resources and Environment, Tietotie 2, Espoo, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, Finland
| | - Arto Urtti
- Drug Research Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 5 E, 00790 Helsinki, Finland; (S.T.); (M.G.C.)
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.A.); (E.T.); (M.R.)
- Laboratory of Biohybrid Technologies, Institute of Chemistry, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskii pr. 26, Peterhoff, 198504 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence: (J.I.); (A.U.)
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Kozono D, Nitta M, Sampetrean O, Kimberly N, Kushwaha D, Merzon D, Ligon K, Zhu S, Zhu K, Kim TH, Kwon CH, Becher O, Saya H, Chen CC, Donovan LK, Birks SM, Bosak V, Pilkington GJ, Mao P, Li J, Joshi K, Hu B, Cheng S, Sobol RW, Nakano I, Li M, Hale JS, Myers JT, Huang AY, Gladson C, Sloan AA, Rich JN, Lathia JD, Hall PE, Li M, Gallagher J, Hale JS, Wu Q, Venere M, Levy E, Rani MS, Huang P, Bae E, Selfridge J, Cheng L, Guvenc H, McLendon RE, Nakano I, Sloan AE, Phillips H, Lai A, Gladson C, Bredel M, Bao S, Hjelmeland A, Lathia JD, Rich JN, Hale JS, Li M, Sinyuk M, Rich JN, Lathia JD, Lathia JD, Li M, Sathyan P, Hale J, Zinn P, Gallagher J, Wu Q, Carson CT, Naik U, Hjelmeland A, Majumder S, Rich JN, Venere M, Wu Q, Song LA, Vasanji A, Tenley N, Hjelmeland AB, Rich JN, Peruzzi P, Bronisz A, Antonio Chiocca E, Godlewski JA, Guryanova OA, Wu Q, Fang X, Rich JN, Bao S, Christel HMC, Benito C, Zoltan G, Aline B, Tilman S, Josephine B, Carolin M, Thomas S, Violaine G, Unterberg A, Capilla-Gonzalez V, Guerrero-Cazares H, Cebrian-Silla A, Garcia-Verdugo JM, Quinones-Hinojosa A, Man J, Shoemake J, Venere M, Rich J, Yu J, He X, DiMeco F, Vescovi AL, Heth JA, Muraszko KM, Fan X, Nguyen SA, Stechishin OD, Luchman HA, Kelly JJ, Cairncross JG, Weiss S, Kim Y, Kim E, Wu Q, Guryanova OO, Hitomi M, Lathia J, Serwanski D, Sloan AE, Robert J, Lee J, Nishiyama A, Bao S, Hjelmeland AB, Rich JN, Liu JK, Wu Q, Hjelmeland AB, Rich JN, Flavahan WA, Kim Y, Li M, Lathia J, Rich J, Hjelmeland A, Fernandez N, Wu M, Bredel M, Das S, Bazzoli E, Pulvirenti T, Oberstadt MC, Perna F, Boyoung W, Schultz N, Huse JT, Fomchenko EI, Voza F, Tabar V, Brennan CW, DeAngelis LM, Nimer SD, Holland EC, Squatrito M, Chen YH, Gutmann DH, Kim SH, Lee MK, Chwae YJ, Yoo BC, Kim KH, Soeda A, Hara A, Iwama T, Park DM, Golebiewska A, Bougnaud S, Stieber D, Brons NH, Vallar L, Hertel F, Bjerkvig R, Niclou SP, Hamerlik P, Lathia JD, Rasmussen R, Fricova D, Rich JN, Jiri B, Schulte A, Kathagen A, Zapf S, Meissner H, Phillips HS, Westphal M, Lamszus K, Sanzey M, Golebiewska A, Stieber D, Niclou SP, Singh SK, Vartanian A, Gumin J, Sulman EP, Lang FF, Zadeh G, Bayin NS, Dietrich A, Abel T, Chao MV, Song HR, Buchholz CJ, Placantonakis D, Esencay M, Zagzag D, Balyasnikova IV, Prasol MS, Ferguson SD, Ahmed AU, Han Y, Lesniak MS, Barish ME, Brown CE, Herrmann K, Argalian S, Gutova M, Tang Y, Annala A, Moats RA, Ghoda LY, Aboody KS, Hitomi M, Gallagher J, Gadani S, Li M, Adkins J, Vsanji A, Wu Q, Soeda A, McLendon R, Chenn A, Hjelmeland A, Park D, Lathia J, Rich J, Dictus C, Friauf S, Valous NA, Grabe N, Muerle B, Unterberg AW, Herold-Mende CC, Lee HK, Finniss S, Buchris E, Ziv-Av A, Casacu S, Xiang C, Bobbit K, Rempel SA, Mikkelsen T, Slavin S, Brodie C, Kim E, Woo DH, Oh Y, Kim M, Nam DH, Lee J, Li Q, Salas S, Pendleton C, Wijesekera O, Chesler D, Wang J, Smith C, Guerrero-Cazares H, Levchenko A, Quinones-Hinojosa A, LaPlant Q, Pitter K, Bleau AM, Helmy K, Werbeck J, Barrett L, Shimizu F, Benezra R, Tabar V, Holland E, Chu Q, Bar E, Orr B, Eberhart CG, Schmid RS, Bash RE, Werneke AM, White KK, Miller CR, Agasse F, Jhaveri N, Hofman FM, Chen TC, Natsume A, Wakabayashi T, Kondo Y, Woo DH, Kim E, Chang N, Nam DH, Lee J, Moon E, Kanai R, Yip S, Kimura A, Tanaka S, Rheinbay E, Cahill D, Curry W, Mohapatra G, Iafrate J, Chi A, Martuza R, Rabkin S, Wakimoto H, Cusulin C, Luchman HA, Weiss S, Gutova M, Frank JA, Annala AJ, Barish ME, Moats RA, Aboody KS. LAB-STEM CELLS. Neuro Oncol 2012. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/nos239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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