Review Article
Intravitreal Devices for the Treatment of Vitreous Inflammation
Table 1
Drug delivery implant polymers.
| Material | Properties | Clinical application |
| Nonbiodegradable devices |
| Ethylene vinyl acetate | Nonpermeable, hydrophobic | Vitrasert implant, intravitreal dexamethasone, and cyclosporine | Polysulfone capillary fiber | Water impermeable; increases surface area for drug release | Used experimentally for carboxyfluorescein dye release and daunomycin in rabbit eyes | Polyvinyl alcohol | Permeable | Vitrasert implant, intravitreal dexamethasone, and cyclosporine |
| Biodegradable devices |
| Polyanhydrides | Degrade by surface erosion into biocompatible monomers | 5-fluorouracil, taxol, and etoposide | Polycaprolactone | Semicrystalline, hydrophobic | 5-fluorouracil, dexamethasone, and triamcinolone implants | Polyglycolic acid | Semicrystalline; synthesized using toxic solvents | ā | Polylactic acid | Hydrophobic; degrades more slowly than polyglycolic acid | ā | Polylactic-co-glycolic acid | Copolymer (adjustable ratio) of polyglycolic and polylactic acid | Dexamethasone (Ozurdex), indomethacin |
|
|