Ultrasound-Enhanced Drug Delivery for Treatment of Acanthamoeba Keratitis.

Abstract

Reaching sufficient amounts of therapeutic agents in ocular tissues is a major challenge in ophthalmology. In this study, we examined the effects of ultrasound application for delivery of polyhexamethylene biguanide for treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Ultrasound intensities of 0.5 - 0.8 W/cm2 and frequencies of 400 - 600 kHz were tested with exposure durations of 1 - 5 minutes. Light microscopy was used to determine the ultrasound-induced structural changes in the cornea. All groups showed increases in drug concentration, up to 2.36 times, passing through the cornea, with the 600 kHz treatment groups reaching statistical significance. Structural changes were observed in the epithelial layer of the cornea, but the stroma and endothelium remained mostly unaffected.

• Authors: Bianca Karpinecz, Natalie Edwards, Vesna Zderic
• Journal: Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference (Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc) Vol. 2019 Pg. 2504-2507 (Jul 2019) ISSN: 2694-0604 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31946406 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Acanthamoeba Keratitis (drug therapy)
• Animals
• Cornea (anatomy & histology, drug effects)
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Ophthalmology
• Rabbits
• Ultrasonography