Publication
Behavior of contact lenses incorporating drug-loaded chitosan/hyaluronic acid nanoparticles
| Summary: | Current treatments for eye disease present significant limitations, such as low drug bioavailability, adverse effects, and patient discomfort. This study aims to evaluate the potential of contact lenses (CLs) embedded with chitosan/hyaluronic acid (Ch/HA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with methotrexate (MTX) for use as a sustained ocular drug delivery platform. MTX-loaded NPs, obtained by the ionic gelation method, were characterized in terms of particle size zeta potential, stability, drug encapsulation efficiency, drug loading capacity, and release profile. Three different materials of silicone-hydrogel CLs were tested: Senofilcon A (Johnson & Johnson), Delefilcon A (Alcon) (daily disposable) and Lehfilcon A (Alcon) (monthly disposable). The CLs were immersed in the solution of drug-laden Ch/HA NPs for two days at a temperature at 4ºC. Before and after this procedure, the CLs’ refractive index (RI), water content (WC), and UV/visible transmittance were measured and chemically characterized by FTIR. The NPs obtained in this study were stable at 4 °C, negatively charged, with hydrodynamic diameters of 284 ± 14 nm (at pH 7.4), low polydispersity, and high MTX encapsulation efficiency (97 ± 1.34%) and drug loading capacity (60 ± 4.49%). NPs adsorption efficiency onto CLs was approximately 96%. After 24 hours, Delefilcon A and Senofilcon A released 22% and 13% of MTX, respectively, and Lehfilcon A released 64% after 30 days, showing sustained release profiles. No significant changes were observed in RI and WC for Lehfilcon A and Delefilcon A CLs, while Senofilcon A showed significant alterations (p ≤ 0.01). All CLs demonstrated UV/visible transmittance above 85%, except Delefilcon A, which reached a maximum value of 85%. No structural changes were found in the chemical composition of the CLs. In conclusion, Ch/HA NPs enable sustained MTX release from Lehfilcon A and Delefilcon A CLs. These results support the potential of NPs-loaded CLs as a promising platform for future sustained ocular drug delivery system. |
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| Main Authors: | Vale, Sofia Peixoto |
| Subject: | Chitosan Contact lenses Controlled release Drug Delivery Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles Ácido hialurónico Entrega de fármacos Lentes de contato Libertação controlada Nanopartículas Quitosano Ciências Naturais::Ciências Físicas |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | master thesis |
| Access type: | open access |
| Associated institution: | Universidade do Minho |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho |
| Summary: | Current treatments for eye disease present significant limitations, such as low drug bioavailability, adverse effects, and patient discomfort. This study aims to evaluate the potential of contact lenses (CLs) embedded with chitosan/hyaluronic acid (Ch/HA) nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with methotrexate (MTX) for use as a sustained ocular drug delivery platform. MTX-loaded NPs, obtained by the ionic gelation method, were characterized in terms of particle size zeta potential, stability, drug encapsulation efficiency, drug loading capacity, and release profile. Three different materials of silicone-hydrogel CLs were tested: Senofilcon A (Johnson & Johnson), Delefilcon A (Alcon) (daily disposable) and Lehfilcon A (Alcon) (monthly disposable). The CLs were immersed in the solution of drug-laden Ch/HA NPs for two days at a temperature at 4ºC. Before and after this procedure, the CLs’ refractive index (RI), water content (WC), and UV/visible transmittance were measured and chemically characterized by FTIR. The NPs obtained in this study were stable at 4 °C, negatively charged, with hydrodynamic diameters of 284 ± 14 nm (at pH 7.4), low polydispersity, and high MTX encapsulation efficiency (97 ± 1.34%) and drug loading capacity (60 ± 4.49%). NPs adsorption efficiency onto CLs was approximately 96%. After 24 hours, Delefilcon A and Senofilcon A released 22% and 13% of MTX, respectively, and Lehfilcon A released 64% after 30 days, showing sustained release profiles. No significant changes were observed in RI and WC for Lehfilcon A and Delefilcon A CLs, while Senofilcon A showed significant alterations (p ≤ 0.01). All CLs demonstrated UV/visible transmittance above 85%, except Delefilcon A, which reached a maximum value of 85%. No structural changes were found in the chemical composition of the CLs. In conclusion, Ch/HA NPs enable sustained MTX release from Lehfilcon A and Delefilcon A CLs. These results support the potential of NPs-loaded CLs as a promising platform for future sustained ocular drug delivery system. |
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Funded activities
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