In-vitro simulations of drug delivery in the vitreous chamber of the eye

Andrea Bonfiglio, Alessandro Stocchino, Rodolfo Repetto, Jennifer H. Siggers

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceedingChapter in a published conference proceeding

Abstract



The vitreous chamber has an approximately spherical shape, and is filled with vitreous humor, a transparent material with viscoelastic properties. The vitreous humor has the mechanical roles of supporting the eye shape, promoting the adherence between the retina and the choroid, and acting as a barrier between the anterior and posterior segments of the eye for transport of heat and molecules [1]. Often, in elderly people, the vitreous humor has almost Newtonian properties as a consequence of a liquefaction process consisting of degradation of the collagenous framework of the gel. Moreover, after vitrectomy the vitreous humor is sometimes replaced with viscous tamponade fluids (typically silicone oils). Since intra-vitreal drug injection is increasingly used to treat retinal diseases, and the efficacy of this procedure depends on molecular transport processes after the injection, much of the biomechanical research on the vitreous humor has focused on understanding transport processes in the vitreous chamber. Many authors have considered purely diffusive transport or alternatively diffusion with advective transport due to creeping bulk flow only [2,3]. However, when the vitreous is liquefied, rotational motion of the eye has been shown to induce significant fluid flow, which plays a fundamental role for drug delivery in the vitreous chamber [4–7]. The most significant contribution to mass transport is due to the generation of a steady streaming flow, i.e. a steady flow resulting from the non-linearity in the equations. This flow component gives rise to a slow particle drift that becomes dominant over long times.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference, SBC 2012
Place of PublicationU. S. A.
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages1171-1172
Number of pages2
ISBN (Print)9780791844809
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Jun 2012
EventASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference, SBC 2012 - Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Duration: 20 Jun 201223 Jun 2012

Publication series

NameASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference, SBC 2012

Conference

ConferenceASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference, SBC 2012
Country/TerritoryPuerto Rico
CityFajardo
Period20/06/1223/06/12

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering

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