Absence of histologic retinal toxicity of intravitreal nanogold in a rabbit model

• Published in: Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.) Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 147 - 149
• Main Authors: Bakri, Sophie J, Pulido, Jose S, Mukherjee, Priyabata, Marler, Ronald J, Mukhopadhyay, Debabrata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-01-2008
• Subjects: Animals; Gold - toxicity; Injections; Male; Metal Nanoparticles - toxicity; Rabbits; Retina - drug effects; Retina - pathology; Vitreous Body
• ISSN: 0275-004X
• DOI: 10.1097/iae.0b013e3180dc9360

To evaluate the retinal toxicity of intravitreal nanogold, a novel antiangiogenic and long-term delivery agent.
One eye of each of 16 Dutch-belted rabbits was injected with intravitreal nanogold; the other eye served as a control. Eight rabbits received a dose of 67 micromol/0.1 mL of nanogold intravitreally into 1 eye; the other 8 rabbits received a dose of 670 micromol/0.1 mL of nanogold intravitreally into 1 eye. Eight rabbits were killed at 1 week, and eight were killed at 1 month; both eyes of each rabbit were enucleated. The eyes were fixed with 2% paraformaldehyde and sectioned for histologic examination.
In all injected and control eyes, there was mild vacuolization in the inner plexiform and ganglion cell layers. The retina and retinal pigment epithelium were otherwise histologically normal.
Intravitreal nanogold at concentrations of 67 micromol/0.1 mL and 670 micromol/0.1 mL showed no signs of retinal or optic nerve toxicity by light microscopy during histologic examination at 1 month.