Development of 3D printed biodegradable polymer-based drug delivery implants for post cataract surgery treatment

Cataracts affect millions of people worldwide; surgery and intensive post-operative care are the current standard of treatment. However, ocular barriers to drug delivery often impede recovery after surgery. This study proposes a potential solution to enhance post-cataract care by developing a biodegradable, controlled-release implant using 3D printing technology and follows the guidelines given by the All-India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS). The implant was designed to be placed into the capsular bag of the eye during the surgery and employs Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as a drug carrier, delivering a combination of drugs such as Dexamethasone (DEX), Moxifloxacin (MOX), and Nepafenac (NEPA) directly into the eye. Two sets of drugs loaded implants were prepared, namely DEX-MOX-PLGA and NEPA-PLGA to mimic the conventional administration of corresponding eye drops used in post-operative management. A two-step process involving hot-melt extrusion and 3D printing, was utilised to prepare these implants. The prepared implants were characterised and the <i>in vitro</i> results aligned with the clinically prescribed regimens. The prepared implants were able to overcome the challenges like consistency of size and the <i>in vitro</i> release profile which were encountered in the previously published hot-melt extrusion only study. This approach demonstrates the feasibility of combining cataract surgery with post-operative drug delivery in a single procedure. The implants provided sustained drug release profiles consistent with clinical dosing regimens and were well substantiated in <i>in vivo</i> rabbit model, supporting their potential to improve patient compliance and recovery in future therapeutic applications.