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Biodegradable core-shell electrospun nanofibers containing bevacizumab to treat age-related macular degeneration

  • Biomaterials Synthesis and Characterization
  • Original Research
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Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a degenerative ocular disease that affects the central retina. It is considered the main cause of blindness and loss of vision worldwide. Angiogenic factors are associated with AMD, which has led to the use of antiangiogenic drugs, such as bevacizumab, to treat the disease using frequent intravitreal injections. In the present study, biodegradable core shell nanofibers containing bevacizumab were prepared by the coaxial electrospinning technique. It is thought that the shell could control the release of the drug, while the core would protect and store the drug. Poly(caprolactone) (PCL) and gelatin were used to form the shell of the nanofibers, while poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and bevacizumab comprised the core. The nanofibers were characterized using microscopy techniques, thermal analysis, and FTIR. The results showed that core-shell nanofibers were produced as designed. Bevacizumab activity was evaluated using a chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantify the amount of the drug released from the different nanofibers in vitro. The toxicity of the nanofibers was evaluated in human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE) cells. The CAM results demonstrated that bevacizumab maintained its antiangiogenic activity when incorporated into the nanofibers. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) tests revealed that the nanofibers showed no cellular toxicity, even in the presence of bevacizumab. The core-shell structure of the nanofibers reduced the release rate of bevacizumab compared with PVA nanofibers. The bevacizumab-loaded biodegradable nanofibers presented interesting properties that would potentially constitute an alternative therapy to intravitreal injections to treat AMD.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of CNPq, CAPES and FAPEMIG. This study is part of the National Institute of Science and Technology in Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology: a transdisciplinary approach INCT-NANOFARMA, which is supported by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil) Grant #2014/50928-2, and by “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico” (CNPq, Brazil) Grant # 465687/2014-8.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627 – Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    Sarah Oliveira Lamas de Souza & Rodrigo Lambert Oréfice

  2. Ezequiel Dias Foundation, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Maria Carolina Andrade Guerra, Luiz Guilherme Dias Heneine & Sílvia Ligório Fialho

  3. School of Biological Science of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Carolina Reis de Oliveira

  4. School of Pharmacy of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Armando da Silva Cunha Junior

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  1. Sarah Oliveira Lamas de Souza
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  2. Maria Carolina Andrade Guerra
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  3. Luiz Guilherme Dias Heneine
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  6. Sílvia Ligório Fialho
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  7. Rodrigo Lambert Oréfice
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Correspondence to Sarah Oliveira Lamas de Souza.

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de Souza, S.O.L., Guerra, M.C.A., Heneine, L.G.D. et al. Biodegradable core-shell electrospun nanofibers containing bevacizumab to treat age-related macular degeneration. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 29, 173 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6187-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6187-5

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