Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity Evaluation of a PLGA and Chitosan-Based Micro-Implant for Sustained Release of Methotrexate in Rabbit Vitreous.

The present research investigates the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of a chitosan (CS) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA)-based methotrexate (MTX) intravitreal micro-implant in normal rabbit eyes. PLGA and CS-based micro-implants containing 400 µg of MTX were surgically inserted in the vitreous of twenty-four New Zealand rabbits using minimally invasive procedures. The PLGA-coated CS-MTX micro-implant and the placebo micro-implant were inserted in the right eye and in the left eye, respectively, of each rabbit.

Improved design and characterization of PLGA/PLA-coated Chitosan based micro-implants for controlled release of hydrophilic drugs.

Repetitive intravitreal injections of Methotrexate (MTX), a hydrophilic chemotherapeutic drug, are currently used to treat selected vitreoretinal (VR) diseases, such as intraocular lymphoma. To avoid complications associated with the rapid release of MTX from the injections, a Polylactic acid (PLA) and Chitosan (CS)-based MTX micro-implant prototype was fabricated in an earlier study, which showed a sustained therapeutic release rate of 0.2-2.

Investigation of an optimal cell lysis method for the study of the zinc metalloproteome of Histoplasma capsulatum.

This work sought to assess optimal extraction conditions in the study of the metalloproteome of the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. One of the body's responses to H. capsulatum infection is sequestration of zinc within host macrophage (MØ), as reported by Vignesh et al.

HcZrt2, a zinc responsive gene, is indispensable for the survival of Histoplasma capsulatum in vivo.

Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) exists in the soil and is capable of adapting to the shift in environment during infection to ensure survival. Yeast encounter a restrictive host environment low in nutrients such as zinc. In this study we functionally analyzed a putative zinc regulated transporter, HcZrt2, in zinc limiting conditions by complementation of HcZrt2 and gene knockdown through RNA interference (RNAi).

Biodegradable chitosan and polylactic acid-based intraocular micro-implant for sustained release of methotrexate into vitreous: analysis of pharmacokinetics and toxicity in rabbit eyes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of a chitosan (CS) and polylactic acid (PLA) based methotrexate (MTX) intravitreal micro-implant in an animal model using rabbit eyes.

Methods: CS- and PLA-based micro-implants containing 400 μg of MTX were fabricated using lyophilization and dip-coating techniques. The micro-implants were surgically implanted in the vitreous of eight New Zealand rabbits employing minimally invasive technique.