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Assessment of Subconjunctival and Intrascleral Drug Delivery to the Posterior Segment Using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

¹From the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland; the ²Divison of Bioengineering and Physical Science, Office of Research Services, ³National Eye Institute, and the ⁴MRI Research Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.

PURPOSE. Sustained-release intravitreal drug implants for posterior segment diseases are associated with significant complications. As an alternative, subconjunctival infusions of drug to the episclera of the back of the eye have been performed, but results in clinical trials for macular diseases showed mixed results. To improve understanding of transscleral drug delivery to the posterior segment, the distribution and clearance of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminopentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) infused in the subconjunctival or intrascleral space was investigated by means of dynamic contrast–enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI).

METHODS. In anesthetized rabbits, catheters were placed anteriorly in the subconjunctival or intrascleral space and infused with Gd-DTPA at 1 and 10 µL/min. Distribution and clearance of Gd-DTPA were measured using DCE-MRI. Histologic examination was performed to assess ocular toxicity of the delivery system.

RESULTS. Subconjunctival infusions failed to produce detectable levels of Gd-DTPA in the back of the eye. In contrast, intrascleral infusions expanded the suprachoroidal layer and delivered Gd-DTPA to the posterior segment. Suprachoroidal clearance of Gd-DTPA followed first-order kinetics with an average half-life of 5.4 and 11.8 minutes after intrascleral infusions at 1 and 10 µL/min, respectively. Histologic examination demonstrated expansion of the tissues in the suprachoroidal space that normalized after infusion termination.

CONCLUSIONS. An intrascleral infusion was successful in transporting Gd-DTPA to the posterior segment from an anterior infusion site with limited anterior segment exposure. The suprachoroidal space appears to be an expandible conduit for drug transport to the posterior segment. Further studies are indicated to explore the feasibility of clinical applications.

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