Hyperdry Human Amniotic Membrane (HD-AM) is Supporting AciclovirIncluded Device of Poly-N-p-Vinyl-Benzyl-D-Lactonamide (PVLA) Spherefor Treatment of HSV-1 Infected Rabbit Keratitis Model

The human amniotic membrane (AM) has been widely used in ophthalmic surgery, including in ocular surface reconstruction. However, whether AM is effective for the release of impregnated drugs is unknown. Hyperdry-AM (HD-AM), glutaraldehyde cross-linked HD-AM (Glu HD-AM) and a solvent of poly-N-p-vinylbenzyl- D-lactonamide (PVLA) did not cause irritation to the rabbit eye. Although the concentration of residual glutaraldehyde in Glu HD-AM was approximately 40 ppm (dry-weight basis), no eye irritation was observed. Acyclovir (ACV) containing PVLA-bearing spheres (ACV/PVLA) was loaded into HD-AM (ACV/PVLA HD-AM), and then the therapeutic efficacy of ACV/PVLA HD-AM was compared with that of ACV/PVLA solution in a herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) eye infection model. The former was more effective against ocular infection, and its efficacy was dose- and volume-dependent. Thus, ACV/PVLA HD-AM sheets were very effective as a curative treatment for eye infection with HSV-1. HD-AM can be function as drug delivery system. In the future, it may be possible to combine HD-AM and PVLA in a device that can control the release of hydrophobic medicines.