Investigating the effect of eye drops based on iodine nanoparticles in the treatment of rabbit eye endophthalmitis

ABSTRACT

purpose

Several studies have been conducted to find the best treatment for endophthalmitis. The present study investigates the effect of eye drops based on iodine nanoparticles in treating rabbit endophthalmitis.

Methods

15 New Zealand rabbits infected with Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25,923) endophthalmitis were randomly divided into three groups of five. (I, II, and III). Group I was used as the control group (without treatment). The second group received an iodine solution (1.25%) without a nanoparticle structure (betadine). The third group received iodine eye drops with nanoparticle structure. Microbial counts and disease severity scores were measured on the first, second, fifth, and fourteenth days.

Results

In terms of microbial load, there was a significant difference between the two groups receiving iodine based on nanoparticles and betadine and the untreated group. The use of iodine nanoparticles led to a further decrease in bacterial load. Betadine and untreated groups showed worsening of the disease in rabbits with endophthalmitis, but the severity of the disease decreased in the nano-iodine group. There was a significant difference between the untreated and nano-iodine groups (p = 0.008).

Conclusions

Using eye drops based on iodine nanoparticles effectively reduces the microbial load and disease severity in rabbits with endophthalmitis.

KEYWORDS:

• Iodine nanoparticles
• endophthalmitis
• disease severity
• rabbit
• ophthalmology

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Ethical approval and consent to participate

This study was conducted per the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) protocol statement for using animals in ophthalmology and vision research methods. Also, this research is approved by the ethical committee Research Ethics Committee of Jundishapur University, Ahvaz, Iran with ethical code: IORC-0011. All methods were performed under the relevant guidelines and regulations. Anesthesia protocol included intramuscular injection of ketamine (30 mg/kg), xylazine hydrochloride (10 mg/kg), and local anesthesia with tetracaine eye drops (0.5%). After the investigation, the rabbits were returned to the animal house. To prevent the loss of eyes of rabbits in severe cases of the disease, intravitreal injection of vancomycin ceftazidime antibiotic was used.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Additional information

Funding

Infectious Eye Research Center, Jundishapur University, Ahvaz, Iran.