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Abstract #107873 Published in IGR 23-4

Targeted Microglial Attenuation through Dendrimer-Drug Conjugates Improves Glaucoma Neuroprotection

Pitha I; Kambhampati S; Sharma A; Sharma R; McCrea L; Mozzer A; Mozzer A; Kannan RM
Biomacromolecules 2023; 24: 1355-1365


Retinal microglial/macrophage activation and optic nerve (ON) microglial/macrophage activation are glaucoma biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for this blinding disease. We report targeting of activated microglia by PAMAM dendrimers in a rat glaucoma model and neuroprotection by -acetylcysteine-conjugated dendrimer (D-NAC) conjugates in a post-injury rescue experiment. Intravitreally delivered fluorescently labeled dendrimer (D-Cy5) conjugates targeted and were retained in Iba-1-positive cells (90% at 7 days and 55% after 28 days) in the retina following intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation, while systemically delivered D-Cy5 targeted ON cells. A single intravitreal D-NAC dose given 1 week after IOP elevation significantly reduced transcription of pro-inflammatory (IL-6, MCP-1, IL-1β) and A1 astrocyte (Serping1, Fkbp5, Amigo2) markers and increased survival of retinal ganglion cells (39 ± 12%) versus BSS- (20 ± 15%, = 0.02) and free NAC-treated (26 ± 14%, = 0.15) eyes. These results highlight the potential of dendrimer-targeted microglia and macrophages for early glaucoma detection and as a neuroprotective therapeutic target.

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15 Miscellaneous



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