Penetration of moxifloxacin through crosslinked corneas

J Cataract Refract Surg. 2014 Jul;40(7):1177-81. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2014.01.030. Epub 2014 May 27.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the ability of moxifloxacin to penetrate the rabbit eye after corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) with riboflavin and ultraviolet-A light irradiation.

Setting: Harlan Biotech Israel, Rehovot, Israel.

Design: Experimental study.

Methods: One eye of 10 New Zealand white rabbits had CXL treatment. One month after treatment and 1 hour before an aqueous humor sample was obtained, 1 drop of 5 mg/mL moxifloxacin (Vigamox) was applied to both eyes of each rabbit every 15 minutes for a total of 4 drops. The aqueous humor samples were sent for high-performance liquid chromatography for antibiotic-concentration analysis. The eyes were enucleated and sent for histology analysis.

Results: Moxifloxacin levels were obtained and analyzed for all 20 eyes. The mean level of moxifloxacin was 2.26 μg/mL ± 0.89 (SD) (range 1.09 to 4.20 μg/mL) in the treated eyes and 2.43 ± 1.17 μg/mL (range 0.89 to 4.72 μg/mL) in the untreated eyes. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Of the 10 eye pairs, lower moxifloxacin aqueous humor concentrations were found in 6 treated eyes and 4 untreated eyes.

Conclusion: Penetration of moxifloxacin into the anterior chamber of rabbits was not influenced by previous CXL treatment.

Financial disclosures: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacokinetics*
  • Aqueous Humor / metabolism*
  • Biological Availability
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Collagen / metabolism*
  • Cornea / drug effects
  • Cornea / metabolism*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / pharmacology*
  • Fluoroquinolones / pharmacokinetics*
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacology
  • Rabbits
  • Riboflavin / pharmacology
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Fluoroquinolones
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Collagen
  • Riboflavin
  • Moxifloxacin