Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a potentially blinding posterior segment disease; Intermediate Kit inflammatory responses and subretinal drusen formation lead to leaky blood vessels.The current treatment method involves intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents, which is highly invasive and requires frequent injections administered by trained personnel.Periocular injections such as trans-/intra-scleral injections would provide a minimally invasive treatment option.
The sclera is the outermost protective layer occupying Packaging 5/6th of the ocular globe.Owing to its avascular nature and self-healing ability, sclera could be the potential space for the delivery of depot forming long-acting formulations.This project focuses on the development of chitosan grafted poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (Cs-g-PNIPAAm) gel for the sustained intrascleral delivery of small molecular weight, multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitor Sunitinib malate.