1 research outputs found
Real-Time Measurement of Antiglaucoma Drugs in Porcine Eyes Using Boron-Doped Diamond Microelectrodes
The primary treatment for glaucoma,
the most common cause of intermediate
vision impairment, involves administering ocular hypotensive drugs
in the form of topical eye drops. Observing real-time changes in the
drugs that pass through the cornea and reach the anterior chamber
of the eye is crucial for improving and developing safe, reliable,
and effective medical treatments. Traditional methods for measuring
temporal changes in drug concentrations in the aqueous humor employ
separation analyzers such as LC–MS/MS. However, this technique
requires multiple measurements on the eyes of various test subjects
to track changes over time with a high temporal resolution. To address
this issue, we have developed a measurement method that employs boron-doped
diamond (BDD) microelectrodes to monitor real-time drug concentrations
in the anterior chamber of the eye. First, we confirmed the electrochemical
reactivity of 13 antiglaucoma drugs in a phosphate buffer solution
with a pH of 7.4. Next, we optimized the method for continuous measurement
of timolol maleate (TIM), a sympathetic beta-receptor antagonist,
and generated calibration curves for each BDD microelectrode using
aqueous humor collected from enucleated porcine eyes. We successfully
demonstrated the continuous ex vivo monitoring of TIM concentrations
in the anterior chambers of these enucleated porcine eyes. The results
indicate that changes in intracameral TIM concentrations can be monitored
through electrochemical measurements using BDD microelectrodes. This
technique holds promise for future advancements in optimizing glaucoma
treatment and drug administration strategies