Photo-controllable drug releasing bulk polyacrylic intraocular lens material for safer posterior capsular opacification prevention.

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is the most common complication that occurs after intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in cataract therapy. In recent years, IOLs have been developed as drug delivery platforms, but concerns over the safety of uncontrolled proliferative drug release have arisen. Therefore, a controlled drug release strategy is needed for safer PCO prevention. In this study, a new monomer contained coumarin group was introduced in material preparation, and poly(ethylene gly co l phenyl ether methacrylate- co -2-(2-ethoxyethoxy) ethyl acrylate- co -7-(2-methacryloyloxyethoxy)-4-methylcoumarin) (PEEC) acrylic IOL materials were synthesized. The antiproliferative drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) could be chemically grafted to the PEEC IOL materials easily via a light induced [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with the coumarin group, getting drug-loaded IOL (PEEC@5-FU IOL). The PEEC@5-FU IOL exhibited excellent optical and mechanical properties and biocompatibility. More importantly, the loaded 5-FU could be easily controlled from release by light irradiation via photo-dissociation of the cyclobutane ring that was obtained by the [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of 5-FU and coumarin. The in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that such photo-controllable drug release IOL could effectively prevent PCO after implantation in a safe way. [Display omitted] • The coumarin residue contained PEEC IOL materials were designed and synthesized. • The PEEC IOLs load 5-FU via light induced [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction and release it in photo-controlled way. • The drug release profile can be tuned by the light irradiation parameters. • Photo-controllable drug releasing IOL are biocompatible and can inhibit HLEC proliferation after light irradiation. • Photo-controllable drug releasing IOL can inhibit PCO development on demand and have good in vivo safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]