Co-delivery of tyrosine-kinase inhibitor and antioxidant drugs for treatment of age-related macular degeneration

Document Type

Poster Presentation

Publication Date

4-17-2026

Keywords

fsc2026

Abstract

Background: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is characterized by abnormal blood vessel formation driven by a hypoxic environment and oxidative damage. Current anti-VEGF therapies require frequent intravitreal injections, creating a significant patient burden. Combining tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as sorafenib and axitinib, with antioxidants like resveratrol and curcumin offers a potential synergistic approach to block angiogenesis and mitigate oxidative damage.

Objective: To develop a multi-targeted approach for nAMD by evaluating the synergistic potential and cytotoxicity of TKI and antioxidant co-delivery in an in vitro retinal model.

Methods: Cytotoxicity was evaluated in human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells using an MTT assay over 24 and 48 hours. Treatment groups included individual drugs (0.01µM–20µM) and co-delivery combinations to determine safe working concentrations.

Results: Individual TKI and antioxidant treatments maintained ARPE-19 cell viability above 80% at concentrations up to 1 µM over 24 and 48 hours. As a combined therapy, the co-delivery formulation exhibited a favorable safety profile with an optimal, non-toxic working concentration of ≤ 1 µM for 24 hours. At 48 hours, only the axitinib and curcumin co-delivery combination remained safe at ≤ 1 µM.

Conclusion: Initial in vitro assays successfully established safe, non-toxic working concentrations for the co-delivery formulations. This multi-targeted approach represents a viable strategy to simultaneously address oxidative damage and pro-angiogenic signaling in nAMD.

Comments

Poster presented at the 2026 Fisher Showcase, St. John Fisher University, April 17, 2026.

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