Date of Defense
20-11-2025 4:00 PM
Location
F1-1077
Document Type
Dissertation Defense
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering
College
COE
Department
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
First Advisor
A.S.Mohammad Mozumder
Keywords
Ocular drug delivery systems, Ocular diseases, Défense barriers, Nanocarriers, Controlled release, Retinopathy.
Abstract
The human eyes have the most complex and advanced defence mechanisms. Due to this barrier, efficient treatment of ocular disorders is always a crucial issue, especially while treating the posterior segment of the eyes. Most of the diseases occurring in the posterior segment of the eyes include age-related macular degeneration, retinitis, diabetic retinopathy and uveitis. Topical and systemic administration of drugs, intravitreal injection, and insertion of non-biodegradable implants are several different approaches employed to treat ocular diseases. These methods have shown promising results in treating age-related macular degeneration but require higher dosage and multiple administration of the drug to the diseased eye or it requires a second surgery to be performed to remove the implant. Recently, hydrogels have gained enormous interest. In this study a novel drug-loaded injectable hydrogel system using oxidized inulin and Pluronic f-127 with β-cyclodextrin nanocrystals will be used to deliver drug to the eye posterior segment. Developed regel ability to release the drug in a controlled manner will be investigated. The fabricated biomaterial, with varying ratios of polymers and drugs, would undergo numerous physical, chemical, thermal and biological characterizations to evaluate their performance as ocular implants. This research presents the design, fabrication, and in-depth characterization of a novel injectable hydrogel system composed of oxidized inulin and Pluronic F-127, integrated with β-cyclodextrin-based nanocrystals for the targeted treatment of ocular defects. The hydrogel is engineered to offer minimally invasive administration, sustained therapeutic delivery, and structural support within the delicate ocular environment. The system’s injectability, swelling ratio, and degradation profile were evaluated to confirm its suitability for intraocular applications. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) were used to examine the topography and elemental distribution of the composite matrix, while nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) assessed the size and dispersion of the embedded nanocrystals. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed the chemical interactions and crystallinity of the hydrogel components. Thermal properties were determined using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) to evaluate formulation stability. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated a sustained and controlled release profile, suitable for long-term ocular therapy. The hydrogel also exhibited significant antioxidant activity, effective antibacterial properties against common ocular pathogens blood test. Biocompatibility was extensively evaluated using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, through live/dead cell staining, DAPI nuclear staining, and ELISA for inflammatory cytokine expression. Ex vivo ocular tissue studies further confirmed the hydrogel’s adhesive properties, biodegradation behaviour, and tissue compatibility.
Included in
A NOVEL DRUG-LOADED INJECTABLE HYDROGEL SYSTEM USING OXIDIZED INULIN AND PLURONIC F-127 WITH Β-CYCLODEXTRIN NANOCRYSTALS FOR OCULAR DEFECT TREATMENT
F1-1077
The human eyes have the most complex and advanced defence mechanisms. Due to this barrier, efficient treatment of ocular disorders is always a crucial issue, especially while treating the posterior segment of the eyes. Most of the diseases occurring in the posterior segment of the eyes include age-related macular degeneration, retinitis, diabetic retinopathy and uveitis. Topical and systemic administration of drugs, intravitreal injection, and insertion of non-biodegradable implants are several different approaches employed to treat ocular diseases. These methods have shown promising results in treating age-related macular degeneration but require higher dosage and multiple administration of the drug to the diseased eye or it requires a second surgery to be performed to remove the implant. Recently, hydrogels have gained enormous interest. In this study a novel drug-loaded injectable hydrogel system using oxidized inulin and Pluronic f-127 with β-cyclodextrin nanocrystals will be used to deliver drug to the eye posterior segment. Developed regel ability to release the drug in a controlled manner will be investigated. The fabricated biomaterial, with varying ratios of polymers and drugs, would undergo numerous physical, chemical, thermal and biological characterizations to evaluate their performance as ocular implants. This research presents the design, fabrication, and in-depth characterization of a novel injectable hydrogel system composed of oxidized inulin and Pluronic F-127, integrated with β-cyclodextrin-based nanocrystals for the targeted treatment of ocular defects. The hydrogel is engineered to offer minimally invasive administration, sustained therapeutic delivery, and structural support within the delicate ocular environment. The system’s injectability, swelling ratio, and degradation profile were evaluated to confirm its suitability for intraocular applications. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) were used to examine the topography and elemental distribution of the composite matrix, while nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) assessed the size and dispersion of the embedded nanocrystals. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed the chemical interactions and crystallinity of the hydrogel components. Thermal properties were determined using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) to evaluate formulation stability. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated a sustained and controlled release profile, suitable for long-term ocular therapy. The hydrogel also exhibited significant antioxidant activity, effective antibacterial properties against common ocular pathogens blood test. Biocompatibility was extensively evaluated using retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, through live/dead cell staining, DAPI nuclear staining, and ELISA for inflammatory cytokine expression. Ex vivo ocular tissue studies further confirmed the hydrogel’s adhesive properties, biodegradation behaviour, and tissue compatibility.