Diabetic retinopathy is the most common complication in diabetic patients relates to high expression of VEGF and microaneurysms. Scutellarin (Scu) turned out to be effective against diabetes related vascular endothelial cell dysfunction. However, its clinical applications have been limited by its low bioavailability. In this study, we formulated and characterized a novel intestinal target nanoparticle carrier based on amphiphilic chitosan derivatives (Chit-DC-VB12) loaded with scutellarin to enhance its bioavailability and then evaluated its therapeutic effect in experimental diabetic retinopathy model. Chit-DC-VB12 nanoparticles showed low toxicity toward the human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells and zebra fish within concentration of 250 μg/ml, owing to good biocompatibility of chitosan. The scutellarin-loaded Chit-DC-VB12 nanoparticles (Chit-DC-VB12-Scu) were then prepared by self-assembly in aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering analysis indicated that the Chit-DC-VB12-Scu nanoparticles were spherical particles in the sizes ranging from 150 to 250 nm. The Chit-DC-VB12-Scu nanoparticles exhibited high permeation in Caco-2 cell, indicated it could be beneficial to be absorbed in humans. We also found that Chit-DC-VB12 nanoparticles had a high cellular uptake. Bioavailability studies were performed in Sprague–Dawley rats, which present the area under the curve of scutellarin of Chit-DC-VB12-Scu was two to threefolds greater than that of free scutellarin alone. Further to assess the therapeutic efficacy of diabetic retinopathy, we showed Chit-DC-VB12-Scu down-regulated central retinal artery resistivity index and the expression of angiogenesis proteins (VEGF, VEGFR2, and vWF) of retinas in type II diabetic rats. Chit-DC-VB12 nanoparticles loaded with scutellarin have better bioavailability and cellular uptake efficiency than Scu, while Chit-DC-VB12-Scu nanoparticles alleviated the structural disorder of intraretinal neovessels in the retina induced by diabetes, and it also inhibited the retinal neovascularization via down-regulated the expression of angiogenesis proteins. In conclusion, the Chit-DC-VB12 nanoparticles enhanced scutellarin oral delivery efficacy and exhibited potential as small intestinal target promising nano-carriers for treatment of type II diabetes induced-retinopathy.

To investigate the ability of drug-loaded N,O-carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels to modulate wound healing after glaucoma filtration surgery. The drug-loaded CMCS hydrogels were in situ synthesized using genipin as the crosslinker in the presence of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or bevacizumab. Their structures were characterized by FTIR, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In-vitro drug release experiments and in vivo evaluation in rabbits were performed. The results of FTIR, UV-vis spectroscopy and SEM analyses indicated that 5FU was encapsulated into the CMCS hydrogels that were crosslinked by genipin. The in vitro drug release experiments showed that nearly 100% of 5FU was released from the drug-loaded hydrogels within 8 h, but less than 20% bevacizumab was released after 53 h. The in vivo evaluation in rabbits indicated that the drug-loaded CMCS hydrogels were nontoxic to the cornea and were gradually biodegraded in the eyes. Furthermore, the drug-loaded CMCS hydrogels effectively inhibited conjunctival scarring after glaucoma filtration surgery and controlled postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP). The drug-loaded CMCS hydrogels provide a great opportunity to increase the therapeutic efficacy of glaucoma filtration surgery.