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Endophthalmitis is not very common but, it is a disease which can result in total loss of vision. Protheragen provides a full-service package for the design and development of diagnostic and therapeutic measures for endophthalmitis. Our skills range from the development of highly sophisticated molecular diagnostics systems to developed therapeutic approaches, ensuring that our customers are provided with the latest technologies and techniques.
Endophthalmitis is a serious inflammatory disease of the intraocular tissues, and fluids that is usually caused by an infection. In broad terms, there are two types of endophthalmitis: exogenous and endogenous. Exogenous endophthalmitis comes from the introduction of microorganisms into the eye during a surgical procedure, traumatic injury, or intravitreal injections. Endogenous Endophthalmitis, however, happens as a result of an infectious agent being spread through the blood. If not treated appropriately, both types have the potential to result in blinding intraocular inflammation and significant visual impairment.
Fig.1 Route of administration of anti-infective drugs. (Luaces-Rodríguez A., et al., 2018)Endophthalmitis is marked by inflammation of the intraocular tissues and fluids, often having symptoms like vision decrease, discomfort in the eye, redness, and hypopyon (layer of pus in the anterior chamber). There are variations in the occurrence of endophthalmitis depending on the type and setting. For example, the incidence of acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery is noted to be in the range of 0.03% to 0.2%. On the other hand, Endogenous endophthalmitis is less frequently observed, contributing to 2% to 16% of reported cases. The causative pathogens also differ between types, among coagulase negative staphylococci where predominates in the postoperative cases while fungal infections have more chance to occur in the endogenous cases.
Traditional Culture Methods
The traditional microbiological culture remains central to the diagnosis of endophthalmitis. Usually, vitreous or aqueous humor samples are retrieved by vitreous tap or vitrectomy and cultured to detect the causative pathogens. Even though culture methods have dependability, they are often lengthy procedures and not all cases yield positive results.
RT-PCR
RT-PCR provides the most pertinent form of detection of pathogens in endophthalmitis which is rapid and accurate. This specific molecular technique enables the amplification and detection of specific DNA sequences, greatly increasing the sensitivity and specificity of pathogen identification.
MALDI-TOF MS
MALDI-TOF MS represents another budding advanced diagnostic technique that promises rapid identification of microbial pathogens. It implies ionization of microbial cells producing mass spectra that are later analyzed for pathogen identification. This method allows obtaining results in a matter of hours rather than in days, as is the case with the traditional culture techniques.
Magneto-DNA Nanoparticle System
The magneto-DNA nanoparticle system represents an advanced methodology for the capture and identification of pathogens. This approach utilizes magnetic nanoparticles bound with DNA probes which are capable of capturing and detecting specific bacterial species. This system was able to identify 13 species of bacteria in less than 2 hours during the research.
In the development of molecular diagnostics for endophthalmitis, Protheragen utilizes sophisticated processes such as RT-PCR, MALDI-TOF MS, and magneto-DNA nanoparticle systems which are at the forefront of technology. We provide services for the design and validation of diagnostic assays as well as optimization of sample collection and processing protocols. In addition, we utilize systems for high throughput screening.
Our range of therapeutics development services encompass identification of new antimicrobial agents and development of dosage forms, as well as novel ways of improving drug delivery. We have the capability of formulating intravitreal antibiotics and antifungal agents as well as continuous release dosage forms for improved therapeutic efficacy.
Protheragen's preclinical research services also include pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies to evaluate the distribution, metabolism, and excretion of therapeutic agents within the eye. These studies provide critical information on drug concentrations at the site of infection and help optimize dosing regimens for maximum efficacy and safety. We use advanced analytical techniques to measure drug levels in ocular tissues and fluids, ensuring accurate and reliable data. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
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