Biomathematics Seminar
Tuesday 2/27/02

Speaker: Fan Yan
Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Duke University.

Title:
Multiscale modeling and simulation of drug toxicity and transport in
the eye
 
Abstract:
One of the current limitations in developing novel glaucoma drugs
that target the trabecular meshwork (TM) is the induced corneal
toxicity from eyedrop formulations. To optimize the bioavailability
of topically applied drugs, we developed a theoretical frame that
considers extracellular diffusion and convection of drugs in the
anterior portion of the eye as well as cellular pharmacokinetics and
pharmacodynamics. To demonstrate the usefulness of multiscale
modeling, we analyzed the delivery of a potential TM drug, ethacrynic
acid (ECA), applied topically on the surface of cornea and calculated
the concentration of ECA in the TM and the dose-dependent toxicity in
the cornea.