Alginate inserts loaded with epidermal growth factor for the treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

We developed and tested ocular inserts containing epidermal growth factor (EGF) for a causal treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). The inserts, consisting of different alginates with hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) as a lubricant and release modifier, released EGF over time periods ranging from a few hours up to several days. The stability of EGF was high, having a protein half-life of approximately 548 days. A clinical pilot study suggests an amelioration of both the main symptoms and the objective criteria: tear film break-up (BUT) time and lissamine green score. Our results show that EGF treatment of KCS is highly promising.