# Undergraduate Research for Dose-Controllable Drug Delivery Implants

> **NIH NIH R15** · UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI · 2021 · $474,519

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The overall goal of this research is to improve the treatment of chronic posterior eye diseases such as diabetic
macular edema (DME), macular edema (ME) or chronic non-infectious posterior uveitis (NU) and reduce side
effects caused by sustained-release of corticosteroids. Current standard of care for long-lasting conditions of
DME/ME/NU is intravitreal injections of sustained-release corticosteroid implants (Ozurdex). However, a recent
NEI-funded study found that sustained-release corticosteroid treatments caused more local side effects
compared to systemic anti-inflammation treatment, such as abnormally high eye pressure, glaucoma, and
cataracts. We postulate that this problem is because of the inability to adjust the dosage when not needed. The
drug concentration in the vitreous or retina released from Ozurdex is high in the first 30 days, which can result
in immediate adverse consequence of high intraocular pressure. In addition, clinical studies revealed that up to
68% of patients experience cataract after more than 2 intravitreal corticosteroid implant injections, which often
requires surgery.
Our central hypothesis is that our novel version of dexamethasone implant – where the dose can be precisely
controlled by laser – would reduce the side effects due to uncontrollable dosage after intravitreal
administration, and extend therapeutic efficacy. Leveraging our expertise in ocular biological mechanisms,
biomedical nanotechnology, and clinical studies, we recently developed a biodegradable light-activated implant
that can be intravitreally injected and triggered by laser through the lens of the eye for drug release. The drug
dosage can be precisely and easily controlled by varying laser parameters, such as power and duration. Our
approach will overcome significant barriers in the field by delivering desirable dose precisely controlled by laser
without safety concerns.
The focus of Specific Aim 1 is to complete the development of a dexamethasone implant and investigate long-
term drug release kinetics in vitro. Specific Aim 2 focuses on defining effect of different drug delivery methods
on reducing side effects in vitro, including daily administration, the light-activated implant, and Ozurdex.
Specific Aim 3 will determine in vivo efficacy and reduced side effects of the implant compared to Ozurdex in a
uveitis rabbit model. At the successful completion of this project, expected outcomes include identifying
feasibility of the light-activated implants to potentially change the standard of care for chronic posterior eye
drug delivery. In addition, the project integrated with undergraduate research will strengthen the research
environment for undergraduate students and have a substantial effect on the institution.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10201860
- **Project number:** 1R15EY031500-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
- **Principal Investigator:** Yoonjee Park
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $474,519
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10201860

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10201860, Undergraduate Research for Dose-Controllable Drug Delivery Implants (1R15EY031500-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10201860. Licensed CC0.

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