Golnar Rahimzadeh
1 
, Majid Saeedi
2, Ali Nokhodchi
3* , Mahmood Moosazadeh
4, Maryam Ghasemi
5, Seyyed Sohrab Rostamkalaei
6, Parham Mortazavi
7, Mohammad Eghbali
7, Reza Pourbakhshian
7, Mohammad Sadegh Rezai
1* , Ebrahim Nemati Hevelaee
81 Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
3 Pharmaceutics Research Lab, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
4 Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Non-communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
5 Immunogenetics Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
6 Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Amol, Iran
7 Student Research Committee, School of pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
8 Laboratory of Microbiology, Bouali Sina Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become increasingly difficult due to its remarkable capacity to resist antibiotics. Bacteriophages have been suggested as an alternative treatment for bacterial infections.
Methods: In-situ gel-forming eye drop containing phage against P. aeruginosa keratoconjunctivitis was prepared. The Cystoviridae phage was formulated as in-situ gel-forming formulation which is a solution formulation but turns into gel when it contacts the eye. Therapeutic effectiveness of the in-situ gel forming formulation was evaluated by histological examination on day 12 post-infection.
Results: The viscosity of selected formulation increased when it was instilled into the eye. The histological results showed edema, abscesses, and destruction of the stromal structure of cornea in groups where no in-situ gel-forming formulation was used. In the group where in-situ gel forming formulation was used, re-epithelialization and normal corneal structure were observed.
Conclusion: In-situ gel-forming ophthalmic formulation containing phage can be effective in the treatment of P. aeruginosa keratoconjunctivitis.