RT Journal Article
T1 Contact lens-based atropine delivery systems for myopia management: design and in vitro-in vivo evaluation
A1 García del Valle, Inés Ángela
A1 Vivero López, María
A1 Concheiro Nine, Ángel Joaquín
A1 Álvarez Lorenzo, Carmen
K1 Myopia
K1 Atropine
K1 Medicated contact lenses
K1 Controlled release
K1 Ocular biodistribution
K1 IVIV Levy plot
AB The prevalence of myopia is increasing exponentially, particularly among children. Alongside other interventions, atropine can slow or even reverse myopia progression; however, topical eye drops produce short-lived concentration peaks that may cause systemic side effects while failing to ensure sustained ocular exposure. Existing contact lens (CL)-based delivery approaches present important limitations, including excessively rapid release, overly prolonged release, or low drug loading. This study aimed to address these shortcomings by designing CLs tailored for atropine delivery during day/night wearing. Hydrogels were synthesized by combining the anionic monomers methacrylic acid (MAA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) with the hydrophobic monomer benzyl methacrylate (BzMA) in specific ratios to modulate affinity for atropine. The resulting materials exhibited suitable solvent uptake, light transmittance, mechanical properties, and oxygen permeability. Anionic monomers enhanced atropine loading, while hydrophobic domains enabled more controlled release. In vivo testing showed that optimized formulations provided sustained drug levels in tear fluid and higher ocular tissue concentrations compared with eye drops. Ocular compatibility was confirmed both in ovo (HET-CAM test) and in vivo. For comparison, atropine loading and release from multifocal CLs designed for myopia control were also evaluated, and in vitro and in vivo correlations were investigated. Overall, these customized CLs represent a promising approach to integrate optical correction with sustained atropine delivery for myopia management.
PB Elsevier
SN 0014-3057
YR 2025
FD 2025-11-07
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/43861
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/43861
LA eng
NO García-del-Valle, I., Vivero-Lopez, M., Concheiro, A., & Alvarez-Lorenzo, C. (2025). Contact lens-based atropine delivery systems for myopia management: design and in vitro-in vivo evaluation. European Polymer Journal, 239, 114293. 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2025.114293
NO The work was supported by Spain Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades MICIU/AEI/ https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 [PID2023-150422OB-I00], ERDF A way of making Europe, cofunded by the European Union, and Xunta de Galicia [ED431C 2024/09].
NO The authors thank Prof. Mabel Loza and Dr. Cristina Val García from BioFarma Research Group (USC GI-1685) for their help with UPLC ex- periments, Prof. Gonzalo Carracedo from Ocupharm Research Group at Complutense University of Madrid for his help with in vivo experiments, and Coren Centro Tecnolóxico de Incubación (Ourense, Spain) for the kind supply of fertilized eggs.
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026