DRUGS RELEASED FROM A SUSTAINED RELEASE DEVICE

Delivering ocular therapeutics to a target site with minimal side effects requires detailed information about the distribution and elimination pathways. This knowledge can guide the development of new drug delivery devices. In this study, we investigated the movement of two drug surrogates, H-110, which is lipophilic, and Gd-DTPA, which is hydrophilic, released from polymer-based implants using a fluorescein technique and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We also studied the pharmacokinetics of intravitreally injected triamcinolone acetonide, a low water soluble drug used for treating sight-threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and choroidal neovascularization associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). At 24 hour post implantation, H-110 released from an intravitreal implant was detected in the subretinal space. However, following a subconjunctival implant, very little H-110 fluorescence was detected in the subretinal region. H-110 most likely reached the subretinal space from an intravitreal implant by diffusion through the vitreous and retina. However, most of the H-110 released from a subconjunctiva