Evaluating the efficacy and safety of polyglycolic acid-loading mitomycin nanoparticles in inhibiting the scar proliferation after glaucoma filtering surgery.

Abstract

Purpose: To prepare a polyglycolic acid-loaded mitomycin drug (MMC-ATS-@PLGA) to inhibit scar proliferation after glaucoma filtering surgery (GFS) via an anti-inflammatory mechanism that minimally affected intraocular pressure, which provided another therapeutic strategy for this disease.

Methods: We first detected the physicochemical properties of MMC-ATS-@PLGA. Next, we tested the biosafety of MMC-ATS-@PLGA in vivo and in vitro. Then, we assessed the therapeutic effects of MMC-ATS-@PLGA by laboratory and clinical examinations.

Results: In this study, we synthesized a new type of nanomedicine (MMC-ATS-@PLGA) with good stability and biocompatibility for inhibiting scar proliferation after GFS. The break-up time (BUT), Schimer test and intraocular pressure changes in GFS rabbits before and after treatment with MMC-ATS-@PLGA were not significantly different. Three weeks after GFS, the MMC-ATS-@PLGA group displayed significant decreases in nuclear volume, corneal cell oedema, type I and III collagen fibre expression, normal organelle morphology and collagen fibre arrangement. Compared with those in the FML and MMC groups, the α-SMA, CTGF and type III collagen fibres in the MMC-ATS-@PLGA group decreased more significantly, indicating that MMC-ATS-@PLGA can effectively inhibit the expression of these inflammatory factors during the inhibition of scar proliferation after GFS.

Conclusion: We successfully synthesized MMC-ATS-@PLGA, which could effectively inhibit scar proliferation after GFS via anti-inflammatory effects but had little effect on intraocular pressure. This new type of nanomedicine has good biosafety and stability and is worthy of further exploration in clinical practice.