Journal of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9570
ISSN: 2155-9570
Zheng-Rong Lu
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Ophthalmol
Retinal degeneration impairs the vision of millions in all age groups worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that the etiology of many retinal degenerative diseases is associated with impairment in biochemical reactions involved in the visual cycle, a metabolic pathway responsible for regeneration of the visual chromophore (11-cis-retinal). Inefficient clearance of toxic retinoid metabolites, especially all-trans-retinal is considered responsible for photoreceptor cytotoxicity. Primary amines including retinylamine and its analogues are effective in lowering the concentration of all-trans-retinal within the retina and thus prevent retina degeneration in mouse models of human retinopathies. We designed and developed drug delivery systems including polymer-retinylamine conjugates and polymeric nanoparticles to improve its therapeutic efficacy. The polymer drug conjugate was effective to provide prolonged protection of light-induced retinal degeneration in Abca4â??/â??Rdh8â??/â?? (DKO), an animal model of Stargardt disease/agerelated macular degeneration after oral administration. Subcutaneous administration of the nanoparticles containing retinylamine reduced liver accumulation of the drug and resulted in effective prolonged prevention of light-induced retinal degeneration in the Abca4â??/â??Rdh8â??/â?? (DKO) mice. We also designed and developed new therapeutics that could effectively sequester toxic all-transretinal without inhibiting the enzymes involved in retinoid cycle chemistry. The new therapeutics was also effective to prevent lightinduced retinal degeneration in the Abca4â??/â??Rdh8â??/â?? mice with minimal side effects on retina functions. The drug delivery systems and new therapeutics have the potential to effectively treat retinal degenerative diseases with minimal side effects.
Zheng-Rong Lu is M Frank Rudy and Margaret Domiter Rudy Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve University and a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. He received his PhD from Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. His research efforts involve molecular imaging, MRI contrast agents, drug delivery and ocular therapeutics. He has over 140 peer-reviewed publications. He has served on numerous NIH study sections. He serves on Scientific Advisory Board of Pharmaceutical Research, Molecular Pharmaceutics and American Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.