Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences


BOTU Current Research


BOTU-Logo_web

The Buchanan Ocular Therapeutics Unit (BOTU) aims to develop and translate ocular therapeutic related scientific research into the clinical setting, whether pharmaceutical, cell, or technology-based. Current research focusses on the evaluation of novel drug therapies for the treatment of sight-threatening diseases with an inflammatory component, as well as the development of novel preclinical models of such diseases. Moreover, we are investigating novel molecules and drug delivery systems that can be targeted specifically to diseased cells while also offering sustained drug release over time.

Find out more about our current projects below:

Novel dual-action eye drop for dry eye disease


This project will investigate a novel eye drop that tackles both tear film instability and inflammation to break the vicious circle of dry eye disease (DED). Combining a novel inflammasome inhibitor with a lipid layer stabilizing vehicle, formulation characterisation and preclinical efficacy will be investigated while also performing clinical investigations to confirm inflammasome activation in DED patients.

Funding

This project is funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand [20/317] and the Buchanan Charitable Foundation.
 

Key staff and students

Vicious circle of DED.
Vicious circle of DED.

Project outputs

Journal articles:

  •  Agarwal P, Craig JP, Rupenthal ID 2021. Formulation considerations for the management of dry eye disease, Pharmaceutics 13(2)
Top

Extracellular vesicles in ocular disease


This project explores the use of ocular derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biomarkers for ocular disease progression as well as their potential to act as efficient drug delivery systems.

Funding

This project is funded by the Buchanan Charitable Foundation and supported by HEVI.

Key staff and students

Nanoparticle tracking analysis of vitreous derived EVs.
Nanoparticle tracking analysis of vitreous derived EVs.
Top

Inflammasome activation in diabetic retinopathy


The inflammasome pathway is part of the innate immune system that can potentiate cell death in chronic diseases. This project aims to understand the pathogenesis of the inflammasome in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and test the efficacy of inflammasome therapies to treat the disease.

Funding

This project is funded by Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust, the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes, the New Horizons for Women Trust Margaret L Bailey Science Award, the New Zealand Association of Optometrists National Educational Research Fund and the New Zealand Optometric and Vision Research Fund.

Key staff and students

Project outputs

Journal articles:

Collecting human organotypic retinal culture explants.
Collecting human organotypic retinal culture explants.
  • Kuo CYJ, Louie HH, Rupenthal ID, Mugisho OO (2021). Characterization of a novel human organotypic retinal culture technique. JoVE
  • Louie HH, Shome A, Kuo CY, Rupenthal ID, Green CR, Mugisho OO 2021. Connexin43 hemichannel block inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a human retinal explant model of diabetic retinopathy, Exp. Eye Res. 202:108384
Top

Inflammasome blockers for non-infectious uveitis


This project aims to determine the efficacy of inflammasome-blocking drugs for the treatment of non-infectious uveitis. This includes the development and characterisation of an inflammasome blocker eye drop, the investigation of drug efficacy in a uveitis animal model and the assessment of inflammasome markers in uveitis patients.

Funding

This project is funded by the Maurice and Phyllis Paykel Trust and the Buchanan Charitable Foundation.

Key staff and students

Inflammasome activation pathway and investigational drugs.
Inflammasome activation pathway and investigational drugs.
Top

New treatments for age-related neuroinflammatory diseases


This project aims to understand how the inflammasome pathway controls key age-related pathological processes in neuroinflammatory diseases affecting both the eye and brain. It then aims to determine whether inflammasome-targeting therapies can halt or reverse disease progression using in vitro and in vivo aging models.

Funding

This project is funded by the Neurological Foundation.

Key staff and students

De-differentiation of retinal pigment epithelial cells exposed to disease conditions.
De-differentiation of retinal pigment epithelial cells exposed to disease conditions.
Top

UV light responsive periocular implant


This project uses UV light to trigger in situ formation of a collagen-based implant. The polymer solution containing suitable quantum dots is injected into the periocular space after which it is subjected to UV light. This results in the formation of a biodegradable gel implant which will sustain the release of contained therapeutics to the posterior eye.

Funding

This project is funded by the Buchanan Charitable Foundation and the Leather and Shoe Research Association.

Key staff and students

Project outputs

Journal articles:

  • Agban A, Mugisho OO, Thakur SS, Rupenthal ID 2020 Characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticle cross-linked collagen hydrogels, Gels 6(4):37
  • Agban Y, Thakur SS, Mugisho OO, Rupenthal ID 2019. Depot formulations to sustain periocular drug delivery to the posterior eye segmentDrug Discov. Today 24:1458-1469
Collagen after UV treatment
Collagen after UV treatment
Top

Conducting polymer based scleral implant


In this project we are aiming to develop a scleral implant based on a porous conducting polymer that is able to provide tuneable drug release (based on the disease progression) over prolonged periods of time by application of a small electrical stimulus, thus resulting in more efficacious and patient-friendly treatment. In addition, we are investigating the pressure sensing capability of such porous conducting polymer structures with the ultimate aim to create a self-regulating implant including wireless power technology for optimal glaucoma management.

Funding

This project was funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand [14/018], the Buchanan Charitable Foundation, and the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FRDF).

Key staff and students

Schematic of implant location and drug release
Schematic of implant location and drug release.
SEM image of honeycomb PEDOT structure made via vapour phase polymerization.
SEM image of honeycomb PEDOT structure made via vapour phase polymerization.

Project outputs

Journal articles: 

  • Yasin MN, Brooke RK, Rudd S, Chan A, Chen W-T, Waterhouse GIN, Evans D, Rupenthal ID, Svirskis D 2018. 3-Dimensionally ordered macroporous PEDOT ion-exchange resins prepared by vapor phase polymerization for triggered drug delivery: Fabrication and characterization. Electrochim. Acta 269:560-570
  • Seyfoddin A, Chan A, Chen WT, Rupenthal ID, Waterhouse GI, Svirskis D 2015. Electro-responsive macroporous polypyrrole scaffolds for triggered dexamethasone delivery. Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm. 94:419-426
  • Yasin MN, Svirskis D, Seyfoddin A, Rupenthal ID 2014. Implants for drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye: A focus on stimuli-responsive and tunable release systems. J. Control. Release. 196:208-221
Top