EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT FORMULATIONS OF MITOXANTRONE (SOLUTIONS, NANOSPHERES, LIPOSOMES) ON GLAUCOMA SURGERY IN RABBITS

Pharmacological blockade of fibroblastic proliferation after glaucoma filtration surgery by using antimitotic agents in different formulatio ns (liposomes, nanospheres) is of great clinical interest. However, on ly limited comparative data are available on the effect of encapsulate d drugs on intraocular pressure (IOP) after filtering surgery. Therefo re we have studied the effect on IOP of liposomes, nanospheres and a s olution of mitoxantrone (MTO), a well-known antimitotic, in rabbits be fore and after sclerectomy. MTO in solution form, as wells in a liposo me formulation, improved the outcome of the surgery by reducing IOP wh en administered subconjunctivally just following surgery. This effect was similar to mitomycin-C application. In contrast, neither prior adm inistration nor subconjunctival nanosphere injections induced a reduct ion in IOP. Liposome administration demonstrated no delayed action or promoting effect but reduced the occurrence of corneal opacity observe d in groups treated with MTO in solution.