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Anti-Toxoplasma activity and impact evaluation of lyophilization, hot molding process, and gamma-irradiation techniques on CLH-PLGA intravitreal implants

  • Biomaterials Synthesis and Characterization
  • Original Research
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Abstract

Intraocular delivery systems have been developed to treat many eye diseases, especially those affecting the posterior segment of the eye. However, ocular toxoplasmosis, the leading cause of infectious posterior uveitis in the world, still lacks an effective treatment. Therefore, our group developed an intravitreal polymeric implant to release clindamycin, a potent anti-Toxoplasma antibiotic. In this work, we used different techniques such as differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy to investigate drug/polymer properties while manufacturing the delivery system. We showed that the lyophilization, hot molding process, and sterilization by gamma irradiation did not change drug/polymer physical-chemistry properties. The drug was found to be homogeneously dispersed into the poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) chains and the profile release was characterized by an initial burst followed by prolonged release. The drug profile release was not modified after gamma irradiation and non-covalent interaction was found between the drug and the PLGA. We also observed the preservation of the drug activity by showing the potent anti-Toxoplasma effect of the implant, after 24–72 h in contact with cells infected by the parasite, which highlights this system as an alternative to treat toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support received from the following institutions: (Brazil), FAPEMIG (Minas Gerais—Brazil), Pró-reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Minas Gerais—Brazil), CAPES (Bolsistas da CAPES-Brasília/Brazil). Also to the Center of Microscopy at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (http://www.microscopia.ufmg.br) for providing the equipment and technical support for experiments involving electron microscopy, the Foundation Ezequiel Dias for providing the equipment for thermal analysis, and to Professor Dr. Ricardo Alves for providing the equipment for FTIR analysis. The authors would especially like to thank to Raquel Maria Souza, Breno Barbosa Moreira, Rosálida Estevam Nazar Lopes, and Guilherme Augusto de Souza Tiago for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Presidente Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil

    Gabriella M. Fernandes-Cunha & Armando Silva-Cunha

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Institute of Biological Science of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Cíntia M. F. Rezende, Alfredo M. Goes & Dawison A. Gomes

  3. Chemistry Department of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Wagner N. Mussel

  4. School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei, Divinópolis, MG, Bazil

    Gisele R. da Silva

  5. Laboratory of Thermal Analysis, Chemistry Department of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Elionai C. de L. Gomes & Maria I. Yoshida

  6. Ezequiel Dias Foundation, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Sílvia L. Fialho

  7. Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Science of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Ricardo W. de Almeida Vitor

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  1. Gabriella M. Fernandes-Cunha
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  2. Cíntia M. F. Rezende
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  3. Wagner N. Mussel
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  4. Gisele R. da Silva
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  5. Elionai C. de L. Gomes
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  6. Maria I. Yoshida
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  7. Sílvia L. Fialho
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  8. Alfredo M. Goes
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  9. Dawison A. Gomes
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  10. Ricardo W. de Almeida Vitor
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  11. Armando Silva-Cunha
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Correspondence to Gabriella M. Fernandes-Cunha.

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Fernandes-Cunha, G.M., Rezende, C.M.F., Mussel, W.N. et al. Anti-Toxoplasma activity and impact evaluation of lyophilization, hot molding process, and gamma-irradiation techniques on CLH-PLGA intravitreal implants. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 27, 10 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-015-5621-1

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