Drug Delivery and Translational Research - 2022 DDTR Best Paper of the Year
Congratulations to the authors of “A Hypotonic Gel-forming Eye Drop Provides Enhanced Intraocular Delivery of Kinase Inhibitor with Melanin-binding Properties for Sustained Protection of Retinal Ganglion Cells (this opens in a new tab)” for receiving the DDTR Best Paper of the Year Award for 2022.
Summary: While eye drops are the most common ocular dosage form, eye drops for treating diseases of the posterior segment have yet to be developed. Degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the retina may progress despite significant intraocular pressure lowering, suggesting that complementary neuroprotective therapies would improve glaucoma management. Here, we describe a hypotonic, thermosensitive gel-forming eye drop to effectively deliver sunitinib, with activity to enhance survival of RGCs after optic nerve injury via inhibiting dual leucine zipper kinase family. We further discovered that the combination of enhanced intraocular absorption provided by the gel-forming eye drop vehicle and the intrinsic melanin binding properties of sunitinib led to significant protection of RGCs with only once weekly eye drop dosing. For a chronic disease such as glaucoma, an effective once weekly eye drop for neuroprotection could result in greater patient adherence, and thus, greater disease management and improved patient quality of life.