Patent ID: 6089234
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: A61K

Abstract:
A method for destroying residual lens epithelial cells in a lens capsule of an eye following extracapsular cataract extraction, said method comprising:providing a solution containing a basement membrane binding agent, selected from the group consisting of polylysine, fibronectin, laminin, type IV collagen, perlecan, decorin, thrombospondin, tenascin, vitronectin, heparin, heparan sulfate, polyarginine, dextran, dextran sulfate, chondroitan sulfate, hyaluronic acid, platelet factor IV, fibrin and fibrinogen, conjugated to a cytotoxic agent selected from the group consisting of ricin, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, daunomycin, doxoribicin, mitoxanthrone, vinca alkaloids, vinblastine, colchicine, cytochasins, monensin and ouabain;introducing said solution into said lens capsule;maintaining said solution in said lens capsule for a predetermined period of time sufficient for said basement membrane binding agent to bind to a basement membrane within said lens capsule; andremoving said solution from said lens capsule, whereby residual lens epithelial cells on said basement membrane within said lens capsule are exposed to said basement membrane binding agent conjugated to a cytotoxic agent such that said residual lens epithelial cells internalize said basement membrane binding agent conjugated to a cytotoxic agent, and whereby said residual lens epithelial cells are destroyed by said cytotoxic agent.