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Simulation of the hydrodynamic conditions of the eye to better reproduce the drug release from hydrogel contact lenses: experiments and modeling

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Abstract

Currently, most in vitro drug release studies for ophthalmic applications are carried out in static sink conditions. Although this procedure is simple and useful to make comparative studies, it does not describe adequately the drug release kinetics in the eye, considering the small tear volume and flow rates found in vivo. In this work, a microfluidic cell was designed and used to mimic the continuous, volumetric flow rate of tear fluid and its low volume. The suitable operation of the cell, in terms of uniformity and symmetry of flux, was proved using a numerical model based in the Navier-Stokes and continuity equations. The release profile of a model system (a hydroxyethyl methacrylate-based hydrogel (HEMA/PVP) for soft contact lenses (SCLs) loaded with diclofenac) obtained with the microfluidic cell was compared with that obtained in static conditions, showing that the kinetics of release in dynamic conditions is slower. The application of the numerical model demonstrated that the designed cell can be used to simulate the drug release in the whole range of the human eye tear film volume and allowed to estimate the drug concentration in the volume of liquid in direct contact with the hydrogel. The knowledge of this concentration, which is significantly different from that measured in the experimental tests during the first hours of release, is critical to predict the toxicity of the drug release system and its in vivo efficacy. In conclusion, the use of the microfluidic cell in conjunction with the numerical model shall be a valuable tool to design and optimize new therapeutic drug-loaded SCLs.

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Notes

  1. The term sink conditions is usually defined as the volume of medium at least greater than three times that required to form a saturated solution of a drug substance.

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Acknowledgments

Acknowledgements are due to Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for funding through the projects PEst-OE/QUI/UI0100/2013 and M-ERA.NET/0005/2012 and support, through IDMEC, under LAETA, of project UID/EMS/50022/2013. A.F.R. Pimenta acknowledges Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for the PhD Grant SFRH/BD/52334/2013. The authors also thank Professor J.R. Ascenso (CQE-IST, University of Lisbon) for the NMR measurement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Química Estrutural, Complexo I, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal

    A. F. R. Pimenta, A. Valente, J. L. G. Mata, B. Saramago & A. P. Serro

  2. IDMEC, Mechanical Engineering Department, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001, Lisbon, Portugal

    A. F. R. Pimenta, J. M. C Pereira, J. C. F Pereira & R. Colaço

  3. Hospital das Forças Armadas - Polo de Lisboa, Azinhaga dos Ulmeiros, Paço do Lumiar, 1690-020, Lisbon, Portugal

    H. P. Filipe

  4. Hospital dos SAMS, R. Fialho de Almeida, 1070-128, Lisbon, Portugal

    H. P. Filipe

  5. Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz, Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde Egas Moniz, Quinta da Granja, Monte de Caparica, 2829-511, Caparica, Portugal

    A. P. Serro

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  1. A. F. R. Pimenta
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  2. A. Valente
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Correspondence to A. P. Serro.

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Pimenta, A.F.R., Valente, A., Pereira, J.M.C. et al. Simulation of the hydrodynamic conditions of the eye to better reproduce the drug release from hydrogel contact lenses: experiments and modeling. Drug Deliv. and Transl. Res. 6, 755–762 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13346-016-0303-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13346-016-0303-1

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