Preprint
Acriflavine delivery via Polyurethane nanocapsules to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration
bioRxiv
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
12/24/2025
DOI: 10.64898/2025.12.22.695712
PMCID: PMC12767643
PMID: 41497650
Abstract
Choroidal neovascularization is a complication associated with retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in the developed world. Choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) refers to the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina which results in exudation and/or hemorrhage, leading to photoreceptor damage and vision loss. Currently first-line treatment for CNVM include intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-binding antibodies that prevent the growth of these leaky blood vessels. Unfortunately, anti-VEGF drugs often require frequent injections, and prolonged VEGF inhibition has been associated with retinal atrophy and decreased long term effectiveness in some patients. This study presents the use of Acriflavine, a small molecule HIF1α inhibitor loaded polyurethane nanocapsules to treat CNVM in a rat model. Fourteen days following laser injury and intravitreal drug administration, CMVM size was significantly reduced in acriflavine nanocapsule and free acriflavine treated animals as compared to drug free controls. Moreover, acriflavine nanocapsules reduce CNVM incidence compared to drug free controls by approximately 25%. Among the different delivery routes tested, intravitreal delivery of acriflavine nanocapsules was found to be superior to subretinal and suprachoroidal delivery for reducing CNVM area without causing significant damage to the neural retina. This paper presents the synthesis, characterization and the effectiveness of the polyurethane based acriflavine delivery system in treating choroidal neovascularization.Choroidal neovascularization is a complication associated with retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in the developed world. Choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) refers to the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina which results in exudation and/or hemorrhage, leading to photoreceptor damage and vision loss. Currently first-line treatment for CNVM include intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-binding antibodies that prevent the growth of these leaky blood vessels. Unfortunately, anti-VEGF drugs often require frequent injections, and prolonged VEGF inhibition has been associated with retinal atrophy and decreased long term effectiveness in some patients. This study presents the use of Acriflavine, a small molecule HIF1α inhibitor loaded polyurethane nanocapsules to treat CNVM in a rat model. Fourteen days following laser injury and intravitreal drug administration, CMVM size was significantly reduced in acriflavine nanocapsule and free acriflavine treated animals as compared to drug free controls. Moreover, acriflavine nanocapsules reduce CNVM incidence compared to drug free controls by approximately 25%. Among the different delivery routes tested, intravitreal delivery of acriflavine nanocapsules was found to be superior to subretinal and suprachoroidal delivery for reducing CNVM area without causing significant damage to the neural retina. This paper presents the synthesis, characterization and the effectiveness of the polyurethane based acriflavine delivery system in treating choroidal neovascularization.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Acriflavine delivery via Polyurethane nanocapsules to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration
- Creators
- Narendra Pandala - University of IowaLorena De Melo HaefeliAdnan Khan - University of IowaHailey Steffan - University of IowaJake Miller - University of IowaEdwin M Stone - University of IowaIan C Han - University of IowaErin B Lavik - University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyRobert F Mullins - University of IowaBudd A Tucker - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Preprint
- Publication Details
- bioRxiv
- DOI
- 10.64898/2025.12.22.695712
- PMID
- 41497650
- PMCID
- PMC12767643
- NLM abbreviation
- bioRxiv
- ISSN
- 2692-8205
- eISSN
- 2692-8205
- Publisher
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
- Language
- English
- Date posted
- 12/24/2025
- Academic Unit
- The University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; John and Marcia Carver Nonprofit Genetic Testing Laboratory; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9985116070702771
Metrics
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