PLGA from PolySciTech used in development of particle based delivery system for glaucoma therapy.

Glaucoma is a degenerative ocular disease related to increased ocular pressure. Researchers at University of North Texas used PLGA (cat# AP082) from PolySciTech Division of Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) to develop particles loaded with novel drug compounds and tested these for use in reducing ocular pressure. This research holds promise to improve therapy against glaucoma. Read more: Amankwa, Charles E., Biddut DebNath, Jennifer H. Pham, Gretchen A. Johnson, Wei Zhang, Amalendu Ranjan, Dorota L. Stankowska, and Suchismita Acharya. "Optimized PLGA Encapsulated SA-2 Nanosuspension Exhibits Sustained Intraocular Pressure Reduction in the Mouse Microbead Occlusion Model of Ocular Hypertension."?European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences?(2025): 107016.? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0928098725000156

“Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is implicated in the structural and functional damage to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Topical IOP lowering agents provide short-term relief, necessitating frequent dosing. Moreover, non-adherence to frequent eyedrops administration contributes significantly to visual field loss and worsens the disease outcome. We optimized the poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles encapsulation of hybrid antioxidant-nitric oxide donor SA-2 (SA-2NP), investigated its bioavailability, duration of IOP lowering efficacy, and effects on retinal function in the microbead model of ocular hypertension (OHT). SA-2 was bioavailable in the anterior and posterior segments after 1, 8, and 24 h post-single topical eyedrop administration. SA-2NP significantly lowered IOP (～25-34%) and preserved the RGC function after weekly eyedrop administration for 3 weeks in C57BL/6J mice. In conclusion, the optimized SA-2NP formulation demonstrated the desired bioavailability, ocular safety, and prolonged IOP-lowering efficacy in the mouse microbead occlusion model of OHT. SA-2 is a small hybrid molecule with both nitric-oxide donating (in blue) and superoxide dismutase mimetic (in red) activities. Compound SA-2 improves mitochondrial respiration in human trabecular meshwork cells and neuroprotective retinal ganglion cells. Here, we report that an optimized SA-2 loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticle formulation, when instilled as an eye drop, improved the delivery and bioavailability of SA-2 in the mouse eye. Topical administration of SA-2NPs eye drops was efficacious in lowering intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in a rodent microbead occlusion model of ocular hypertension with ～6 days of sustained IOP lowering (25-32%) after a single dose. Keywords: PLGA nanoparticles SA-2 intraocular pressure primary open-angle glaucoma bioavailability retinal protection sustained release”

PLGA (Cat# AP082): https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/polyvivo/index.php?highlight=AP082#h

Corbion Purasorb? Polymers: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/purasorb/

Ashland-TM Polymer Products: https://akinainc.com/polyscitech/products/ashland/