Nano sized ocular drug delivery system - an overview

Abstract

Drug delivery to the eye has remained as one of the most challenging research for formulation scientists as ocular

drug delivery system requires a series of specified characteristics according to the physiological structure of the eye.

Eye is a unique and challenging organ for therapeutic drug delivery on to the surface as well as in the interior part of

the ocular structure.The drug may bind to tear proteins and conjunctival mucin to treat the local ophthalmic diseases,

liquid eye drop is the most desirable dosage form when considering convenience of administration and clinical

compliance of the patients. These conventional dosage forms account for nearly 90% of the currently available

marketed formulations owing to their simplicity and good acceptance by patients. However, conventional eye drops,

most of which are present in the solution form, usually have quite a limited therapeutic efficacy due to the low

bioavailability The use of nano-approaches like nano-suspensions, nanoparticles, Nano emulsion, niosomes and

liposomes has led to the solution of various solubility and permeability related problems of poorly soluble drugs like

dexamethasone, cyclosporin, dorzolamide, gancyclovir and many more drugs. This review includes various nano

sized formulations used to achieve prolonged contact time of drugs with the cornea and increase their bioavailability.

Ophthalmic drug delivery is one of the most interesting and challenging endeavors facing the pharmaceutical

scientist.