On October 1st, 2025, Mitta PIERRE successfully defended her doctoral thesis entitled “Nanoformulations of antioxidant active ingredients for ophthalmic administration in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)” supervised by Pr. Christine CHARRUEAU and co-supervised by Dr. Diana LAMAA. She presented her findings to a jury chaired by Pr. Harold MERLE, and comprising Pr. Laurent KODJIKIAN, Dr. Alexandra MIERE, Dr. Nicolas ANTON, and Dr. Françoise BRIGNOLE-BAUDOUIN. Her research aimed at developing, characterizing, and biologically assessing liposomes co-encapsulating the active pharmaceutical ingredients of the oral AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study) formula, i.e. vitamins C and E, zinc, and beta-carotene, for a topical ophthalmic use. While the liposomal ophthalmic adaptation of the AREDS formula may not be usable by topical route because of its in vitro cytotoxicity on corneal cells, and lack of synergetic antioxidant activity on oxidative stress induced on retinal cells, liposomes of vitamin E alone were nontoxic and significantly protected retinal cells from oxidative stress induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, ophthalmic liposomes encapsulating vitamin E are a potential alternative to oral supplements for the prevention of retinal damage due to oxidative stress.
