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Multi-physics simulations for investigating the effect of electrode conditions on transscleral ocular iontophoresis for particulate drug delivery into ocular tissues

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Abstract

Purpose

Transscleral ocular iontophoresis has been proposed to deliver charged particulate drugs to ocular tissues effectively by transmitting a weak electrical current through the sclera. The electric fields formed are influenced by the electrode conditions, thus affecting the amount of particulate drugs delivered to the ocular tissues via iontophoresis. Computational simulation is widely used to simulate drug concentrations in the eye; therefore, reflecting the characteristics of the drugs in living tissues to the simulations is important for a more precise estimation of drug concentration. In this study, we investigated the effect of electrode conditions (location and size) on the efficacy of transscleral iontophoresis.

Methods

We first determined the simulation parameters based on the comparison of the amount of drug in the sclera in the simulation and in vivo experimental results. The injection of the negatively charged nanoparticles into the cul-de-sac of the lower eyelid was simulated. The active electrode (cathode) was attached to the skin immediately above the injection site, while the return electrode (anode) was placed over the eyebrow. The drug concentration distribution in the eye, based on either the location or size of each electrode, was evaluated using the finite element method with the estimated simulation parameters.

Results

Our results indicate that drug permeability varies depending on the location and the size of the electrodes.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that the determination of optimal electrode conditions is necessary to enhance the effectiveness of transscleral iontophoresis.

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Data availability

Please contact the corresponding author (ich@hanyang.ac.kr) for data requests.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF) grant funded by the Korea government(MSIT). (No. RS-2023-00266075).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong- gu, Seoul, 133-791, Republic of Korea

    Sangjun Lee & Chang-Hwan Im

  2. Department of Electronic Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Sangjun Lee & Chang-Hwan Im

  3. Institute of Medical & Biological Engineering, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Se-Na Kim & Young Bin Choy

  4. Department of Structure & Function of Neural Network, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu, Republic of Korea

    Chany Lee

  5. Interdisciplinary Program in Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Young Bin Choy

  6. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Young Bin Choy

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  1. Sangjun Lee
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Contributions

S.L. conceived the initial idea and wrote the manuscript. C.L. created the finite element model of the rabbit head model and conducted computational simulations. S.K. and YB.C. conducted rabbit experiments during ocular iontophoresis to measure drug concentrations in eyes. C.I. revised the manuscript. All authors revised and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Chang-Hwan Im.

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Lee, S., Kim, SN., Lee, C. et al. Multi-physics simulations for investigating the effect of electrode conditions on transscleral ocular iontophoresis for particulate drug delivery into ocular tissues. Biomed. Eng. Lett. 14, 439–450 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-024-00359-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13534-024-00359-2

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