Cited by 14Advanced Drug Delivery SystemsCorneal surgery and disordersOcular Infections and Treatments

Characterization and evaluation of rapamycin-loaded nano-micelle ophthalmic solution

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Zhang, Ting, Wei, Chao, Wu, Xianggen, Zhang, Sai, Duan, Fangnan, Qi, Xiaolin, Shi, Weiyun, Gao, Hua·2023·Journal of Functional Biomaterials

Abstract

Rapamycin-loaded nano-micelle ophthalmic solution (RAPA-NM) offers a promising application for preventing corneal allograft rejection; however, RAPA-NM has not yet been fully characterized. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and underlying mechanism of RAPA-NM in inhibiting corneal allograft rejection. An optimized RAPA-NM was successfully prepared using a polyvinyl caprolactam-polyvinyl acetate-polyethylene glycol (PVCL-PVA-PEG) graft copolymer as the excipient at a PVCL-PVA-PEG/RAPA weight ratio of 18:1. This formulation exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (99.25 ± 0.55%), small micelle size (64.42 ± 1.18 nm), uniform size distribution (polydispersity index = 0.076 ± 0.016), and a zeta potential of 1.67 ± 0.93 mV. The storage stability test showed that RAPA-NM could be stored steadily for 12 weeks. RAPA-NM also displayed satisfactory cytocompatibility and high membrane permeability. Moreover, topical administration of RAPA-NM could effectively prevent corneal allograft rejection. Mechanistically, a transcriptomic analysis revealed that several immune- and inflammation-related Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were significantly enriched in the downregulated genes in the RAPA-NM-treated allografts compared with the rejected allogenic corneal grafts. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of RAPA-NM in treating corneal allograft rejection and other ocular inflammatory diseases.

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Authors
Zhang, T., Wei, C., Wu, X., Zhang, S., Duan, F., Qi, X., Shi, W., & Gao, H.
Affiliations
  • Shandong Eye Hospital (CN)
  • Shandong First Medical University (CN)
  • Qingdao University of Science and Technology (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Shi, Weiyun
  • Gao, Hua
Venue
Journal of Functional Biomaterials
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2023-01-16
Volume
14
Issue
1
Pages
49
ISSN
2079-4983 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4316663537
Cited by
14
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3
FWCI
1.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Functional Biomaterials (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Nature Science Foundation of China (81870639, 82070923, 2022CXGC010505, 201812150, 202103185, 2019RC009, 2019PT002, 2019ZL001)
  • Key R&D Plan of Shandong Province (81870639, 82070923, 2022CXGC010505, 201812150, 202103185, 2019RC009, 2019PT002, 2019ZL001)
  • Taishan Scholars Program (81870639, 82070923, 2022CXGC010505, 201812150, 202103185, 2019RC009, 2019PT002, 2019ZL001)
  • Academic Promotion Program and Innovation Project of Shandong First Medical University (81870639, 82070923, 2022CXGC010505, 201812150, 202103185, 2019RC009, 2019PT002, 2019ZL001)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmaceutical Science › Advanced Drug Delivery Systems
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Corneal surgery and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Ophthalmology › Ocular Infections and Treatments
Keywords
rapamycin, nanomicelles, eye drops, corneal graft rejection, encapsulation efficiency, cytocompatibility, membrane permeability, topical drug delivery, gene expression profiling, immune pathways, ocular inflammation

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