Mirunalni Thangavelu

Enzymatic quantification of cholesterol and cholesterol esters from silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

PURPOSE The purpose of this work was to develop an enzymatic method of quantification of cholesterol and cholesterol esters derived from contact lenses, both in vitro and ex vivo. METHODS Lotrafilcon B (O2 Optix; CIBA Vision, Inc., Duluth, GA) and galyfilcon A (Acuvue Advance; Vistakon, Inc., Jacksonville, FL) silicone hydrogel contact lenses were independently incubated in cholesterol oleate solutions varying in concentrations. After incubation, the lenses were removed and underwent two separate 2:1 chloroform-methanol extractions. After in vitro studies, 10 human subjects wore both lotrafilcon B and galyfilcon A contact lenses for 7 days. The lenses also underwent two separate 2:1 chloroform-methanol extractions. All in vitro and ex vivo samples were quantified with a cholesterol esterase enzymatic reaction. RESULTS Calibration curves from quantifications of in vitro contact lens samples soaked in successively decreasing concentrations of cholesterol oleate yielded coefficients of determination (R(2)) of 0.99 (lotrafilcon B) and 0.97 (galyfilcon A). For in vitro contact lens samples, galyfilcon A was associated with an average cholesterol oleate extraction of 39.85 +/- 48.65 microg/lens, whereas lotrafilcon B was associated with 5.86 +/- 3.36 microg/lens (P = 0.05) across both extractions and all incubation concentrations. For ex vivo contact lens samples, there was significantly more cholesterol and cholesterol esters deposited on galyfilcon A (5.77 +/- 1.87 microg/lens) than on lotrafilcon B (2.03 +/- 1.62 microg/lens; P = 0.0005). CONCLUSIONS This is an efficient and simple method of quantifying total cholesterol extracted from silicone hydrogel contact lenses and, potentially, the meibum and/or tear film. Certain silicone hydrogel materials demonstrate more affinity for cholesterol and its esters than do others.

Examination of human meibum collection and extraction techniques.

Purpose. To compare various meibum collection methods and extraction techniques. Methods. Sixty subjects, all successful contact lens wearers, were seen on two visits. Meibum was collected from the lower lid of the right eye with a glass microcapillary tube, and with a Dacron swab, cytology microbrush, or spatula from the left eye. Extraction with 2:1 chloroform:methanol was done either immediately or after data collection was complete. Individual samples were divided into four equal aliquots for analysis of total lipids, cholesterol, and inorganic phosphates by assay-based techniques. Effects of collection method, extraction, and dry eye status were examined using repeated measures analysis of variance and logistic regression. Results. Total lipids showed significance for collection device (p < 0.0001) but not for extraction technique (p = 0.13) or dry eye status (p = 0.97). Dacron swab collection was associated with more total lipid on average than each other collection device (p < 0.0001). The cholesterol assay showed significance of collection device (p < 0.0001) and extraction technique (p = 0.0002) but not dry eye status (p = 0.55). Spatula collection was associated with more cholesterol on average than each other collection device (p < 0.0001). For inorganic phosphates, immediate extraction (p < 0.0001), cytology microbrush collection (p < 0.0001), and non-dry eye status (p = 0.03) were associated with the greater likelihood of detection. Conclusions. Dacron swab collection was associated with the highest average amount of total lipid detected, whereas spatula collection and immediate extraction was associated with the highest average amount of cholesterol detected. Cytology microbrush collection with immediate extraction on non-dry eye subjects was associated with the highest probability of detection of inorganic phosphates.

Evaluation of extractants and precipitants in tear film proteomic analyses.

Purpose. To determine the efficiency of several protein extraction or precipitation treatments used in proteomic analyses. Methods. Tear samples were taken from each eye of 40 normal subjects using glass microcapillaries. Tear volume was measured followed by storage at −86°C. Lotrafilcon B contact lenses were fitted and worn for 14 days, followed by removal and storage at −86°C. Tear samples from each eye within a subject were randomly assigned to either one of four chemical treatments (acetone, trichloroacetic acid, urea, and trifluoroacetic acid/acetonitrile [TFA/ACN]) or no chemical treatment in groups of 10. Contact lens samples were subjected to the same treatments as tear samples for each subject, with a second treatment preceding the first. Protein concentrations were quantified by Bradford assay. Results. For tear samples, a significant reduction in total protein was observed when subjected to any of the four treatments studied compared with those samples left untreated. A positive relationship was noted between protein concentration and tear volume for treated, untreated, and combined tear samples. For contact lens samples, there was a significant reduction in the amount of deposited protein removed when comparing acetone, trichloroacetic acid, and urea with TFA/ACN. A second extraction from contact lenses assigned to the urea and TFA/ACN groups yielded a significant amount of additional protein compared with the amount removed initially. Conclusions. Tear samples subjected to any of the evaluated chemical treatments provided significantly less protein than untreated samples. For contact lenses, TFA/ACN extraction provided the highest yield of available protein out of the four treatments evaluated.

Analysis of the transport of and cytotoxic effects for nalbuphine solution in corneal cells

OBJECTIVE To assess the in vitro effects of various nalbuphine concentrations on viability and wound healing ability of corneal cells and potential drug transport through the corneal epithelium. SAMPLE Cultured canine and human corneal epithelial cells (CECs) and cultured canine corneal stromal fibroblasts. PROCEDURES CECs and stromal fibroblasts were exposed to nalbuphine (concentration of solutions ranged from 0% to 1.2%) for up to 30 minutes, and viability was assessed with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. A standard scratch test technique was used. Wound healing of CECs and stromal fibroblasts was evaluated following treatment with nalbuphine solutions < 0.1%. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry analysis was used to evaluate drug transport across a monolayer and a multilayer of human CECs. RESULTS A progressive decrease in viability was detected in canine CECs for all nalbuphine treatment groups, whereas treatment with only 0.5% or 1.2% nalbuphine significantly reduced corneal stromal fibroblast viability, compared with results for control cells. Within 24 hours, treatment with 0.1% nalbuphine solution significantly altered the healing rate of both canine CECs and stromal fibroblasts. Continuous increases in transport rates of nalbuphine were detected with time for both the monolayer and multilayer of human CECs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In vitro, nalbuphine potentially could penetrate through corneal tissue, but it may cause damage to the corneal epithelium and stromal fibroblasts. Therefore, nalbuphine potentially may impair corneal wound healing.