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Advances in Biodegradable Nano-Sized Polymer-Based Ocular Drug Delivery
Courtney Lynch1, Pierre P D Kondiah1, Yahya E Choonara1
1Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa.
Polymers
|August 23, 2019
Summary
Overcoming ocular drug delivery challenges requires advanced strategies. Biodegradable polymers and nanotechnology enhance drug penetration and bioavailability for treating eye conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmaceutics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Ocular drug delivery faces significant challenges due to physiological barriers and rapid clearance, resulting in low bioavailability.
- Conventional treatments often struggle to achieve therapeutic drug concentrations in the eye.
- Recent advancements in materials science offer potential solutions for improved ocular drug delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the physiological barriers in the eye that impede drug delivery.
- To discuss current conventional treatment methods for ocular conditions.
- To explore the application of polymeric drug delivery and nanotechnology for enhanced ocular drug penetration.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on ocular drug delivery systems.
- Analysis of the properties of biodegradable polymers in ocular formulations.
- Investigation of nanotechnology-based approaches for drug delivery to the eye.
Main Results:
- Biodegradable polymers improve drug retention time, bioavailability, and controlled release via mucoadhesion.
- Nanotechnology enhances drug penetration through ocular barriers, significantly improving bioavailability.
- Both approaches show promise for optimizing drug delivery to the anterior and posterior segments of the eye.
Conclusions:
- Biodegradable polymers and nanotechnology represent promising strategies to overcome ocular drug delivery limitations.
- These advanced systems offer improved drug bioavailability and targeted delivery for ocular conditions.
- Further research in these areas can lead to more effective treatments for eye diseases.
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