Supercritical loading of gatifloxacin into hydrophobic foldable intraocular lenses - Process control and optimization by following in situ CO sorption and polymer swelling.

The supercritical impregnation process was used as a green technology for the elaboration of drug delivery intraocular lenses to mitigate the risk of post-operatory endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Commercially available hydrophobic acrylic (copolymer of benzyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate) intraocular lenses (IOLs) were impregnated with gatifloxacin, a fourth generation fluoroquinolone drug, using pure supercritical CO (scCO) to obtain solvent-free loaded implants. The interaction phenomena involved in the supercritical impregnation were studied by following in situ scCO sorption within the polymer support and the subsequent IOL swelling, and by taking into account drug solubility in the supercritical fluid phase.

Supercritical fluid technology for the development of innovative ophthalmic medical devices: Drug loaded intraocular lenses to mitigate posterior capsule opacification.

Supercritical impregnation technology was applied to load acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) with methotrexate to produce a sustained drug delivery device to mitigate posterior capsule opacification. Drug release kinetics were studied in vitro and used to determine the drug loading. Loaded IOLs and control IOLs treated under the same operating conditions, but without drug, were implanted ex vivo in human donor capsular bags.