Erlotinib might be of clinical relevance in PCO prophylaxis, as its short-term application induces a long-term deceleration of cellular growth. Erlotinib can be introduced into the eye via soaked IOLs.

This in-vitro technique using traction application allows for culturing surgically removed epiretinal membranes from eyes with idiopathic macular pucker, demonstrating cell behavior and membrane contraction of primary human epiretinal cells. Our findings emphasize the abundance of myofibroblasts, the presence of microglia and specific differences of cell behavior in these membranes. This technique has the potential to improve the understanding of pathologies at the vitreomacular interface and might be helpful in establishing anti-fibrotic treatment strategies.

Purpose: Different molecular targets, such as the epidermal growth factor receptor, have been identified for the prophylaxis of posterior capsule opacification. This led to the proposal of several drugs, yet drug delivery into the capsular bag remains challenging. The intraocular lens as a drug delivery device would provide a convenient method to allow drug release in the location needed. This is to evaluate the effect of a drug-eluting intraocular lens using an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor. Methods: Hydrophobic and hydrophilic intraocular lenses were coated with gefitinib using the dip coating technique. The cellular response on the modified intraocular lenses was tested in a human lens epithelial cell line (FHL-124) in an anterior segment model. Furthermore, modified intraocular lenses were implanted into human capsular bags ex vivo. Drug release was determined as well as the biocompatibility on human corneal endothelial cells. Unmodified intraocular lenses served as controls. In addition, immunofluorescence staining with fibronectin as a marker for fibrotic response was conducted. Results: Both coated hydrophilic and hydrophobic intraocular lenses could attenuate the cell growth of FHL-124 cells in the human capsular bag in comparison to the unmodified controls. Furthermore, gefitinib-soaked intraocular lenses showed a constant drug release over the first 10 days. No reduction in cell viability of corneal endothelial cells occurred. A decrease in fibronectin expression under gefitinib treatment could be observed. Conclusion: In vitro epidermal growth factor receptor seems to be a valuable target for the prevention of posterior capsule opacification. The gefitinib-eluting intraocular lens in this study could inhibit cell growth in non-toxic concentrations.

SummaryPurposeTo assess the effect of EGFR Inhibitor Erlotinib and the downstream Inhibitor Erufosin (PI3K) soaked into intraocular lenses (IOLs) on human lensepithelialcell (LEC) proliferation in vitro.MethodsFoldable IOLs were incubated with Erufosin or Erlotinib. Intraocular lenses of the same lot served as uncoated controls. Each IOL was placed into cell cultre containing proliferating human LECs. Cell survival was tested by the XTT‐dye reduction assay 5 days later. Furthermore IOLs were put into the Gotoh anterior chamber model. In addition, soaked IOLs were implanted into the human capsular bags and braught to cell‐culture. The time until full cell‐coverage of the capsular bag was measured.ResultsErufosin (P<0.05) and Erlotinib (P<0.05) coated IOLs attenuated human LEC proliferation in all above described models. For both substances soaked hydrophilic acrylic IOLs were more effective inhibitors of human LEC proliferation than coated hydrophobic acrylic.ConclusionsResults show that both substances are suitable agents for IOL‐soaking without linker molecules. Soaked IOLs can inhibit human LEC proliferation in our models and might become of clinical relevance in future.