A novel gatifloxacin-loaded intraocular lens for prophylaxis of postoperative endophthalmitis.

Abstract

Postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) has been the most threatening complication after cataract surgery, which perhaps can be solved by the antibiotic-loaded intraocular lens (IOL). However, most drug-loaded IOLs demonstrate insufficient drug quantity, short release time, increased implantation-related difficulties or other noticeable drawbacks. To prevent POE and to address these deficiencies, a drug-loaded copolymer IOL, prepared from poly (urethane acrylate) prepolymer, isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA), N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP), Irgacure 819, RUVA-93, and gatifloxacin (GAT), was rapidly fabricated via photocuring and by using a 3D-printed mold. This composite displayed an outstanding and controllable GAT release behavior <i>in vitro</i>, a high light transmittance, and a moderate refractive index. Also, it demonstrated improved strain stress and elongation compared with the reference commercial acrylic IOL material. <i>In vivo</i> tests demonstrated satisfying released drug concentration at the early treatment stage. <i>In vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> studies further confirmed the remarkable bacterial inhibition and prevention of POE by the proposed IOL, which also displayed good biocompatibility. These findings suggested that the GAT-loaded IOL could be a promising implant to prevent and cure POE, also the proposed methods could inspire more designs for various medical applications.