Collagen shields impregnated with gentamicin-dexamethasone as a potential drug delivery device.

We investigated the ability of collagen shields impregnated with gentamicin sulfate and dexamethasone to deliver medication into rabbit eyes. We compared the aqueous humor gentamicin and dexamethasone levels delivered by collagen shield and subconjunctival injection therapy at five time points over a ten-hour period, by using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay and high-pressure liquid chromatography. Our in vitro studies showed that impregnated collagen shields released most of the gentamicin within the first 30 minutes of elution, whereas dexamethasone was released gradually over a ten-hour period.

Collagen shield delivery of amphotericin B.

By using a high-pressure liquid chromatography assay, we investigated the ability of collagen shield therapeutic contact lenses to release amphotericin B and deliver it to the anterior segment of rabbit eyes. In vitro studies showed that presoaked collagen shields released most of the amphotericin B within the first hour of elution. We compared the corneal and aqueous humor amphotericin B levels produced by collagen shields soaked in amphotericin B and frequent-drop therapy at four time points over a six-hour period.