%0 Journal Article %A Karavasili, Christina %A Komnenou, Anastasia %A L. Katsamenis, Orestis %A Charalampidou, Glykeria %A Kofidou, Evangelia %A Andreadis, Dimitrios %A Koutsopoulos, Sotirios %A Fatouros, Dimitrios G. %D 2017 %T Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofiber Hydrogels for Controlled Ocular Delivery of Timolol Maleate %U https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Self-Assembling_Peptide_Nanofiber_Hydrogels_for_Controlled_Ocular_Delivery_of_Timolol_Maleate/5605735 %R 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00706.s001 %2 https://acs.figshare.com/ndownloader/files/9754921 %K vivo permeation studies %K AUC %K I-CONH %K drug solution %K vivo studies %K self-assembling peptide sequence %K CONH 2 hydrogel %K electron microscopy studies %K Timolol Maleate %K Controlled Ocular Delivery %K 24 h %K self-assembling peptide hydrogels %K CONH 2 peptide %K Self-Assembling Peptide Nanofiber Hydrogels %K β- blocker timolol maleate %K form hydrogels %K Ac %K rheological studies %K CONH 2 %K drug delivery %K drug-loaded hydrogels %K Histological studies %X The self-assembling peptides Ac-(RADA)4-CONH2 and Ac-(IEIK)3I-CONH2, which form hydrogels in physiological conditions, were evaluated as carriers for ocular delivery of the β-blocker timolol maleate. Electron microscopy studies revealed that hydrogels contain nanofibers, whereas rheological studies showed that the Ac-(IEIK)3I-CONH2 self-assembles in a stiffer hydrogel compared with the Ac-(RADA)4-CONH2 peptide. The in vitro release and ex vivo permeation studies demonstrated controlled release and transport of the drug through the cornea, which depended on the self-assembling peptide sequence. In vivo studies in rabbits showed significant increase in the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) after administration of the drug through the Ac-(RADA)4-CONH2 hydrogel compared to drug solution, whereas a sustained reduction of intraocular pressure for up to 24 h after instillation was achieved for both drug-loaded hydrogels. Histological studies revealed good ocular tolerability upon application of the formulations, suggesting that self-assembling peptide hydrogels are promising systems for sustained ocular drug delivery. %I ACS Publications