Ophthalmic drug delivery system: Challenges and approaches

• Published in: Systematic reviews in pharmacy Vol. 1; no. 2; p. 113
• Main Authors: Patel, P, Shastri, D, Shelat, P, Shukla, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Perak Advanced Scientific Research 01.12.2010
• Subjects: Anatomy & physiology; Bioavailability; Drug delivery systems; Drug dosages; Drug therapy; Nanoparticles; Retina
• ISSN: 0975-8453; 0976-2779
• DOI: 10.4103/0975-8453.75042

Promising management of eye ailments take off effective concentration of drug at the eye for sufficient period of time. Ocular drug delivery is hampered by the barriers protecting the eye. The bioavailability of the active drug substance is often the major hurdle to overcome. Conventional ocular dosage form, including eye drops, are no longer sufficient to combat ocular diseases. This article reviews the constraints with conventional ocular therapy, essential factors in ocular pharmacokinetics, and explores various approaches like eye ointments, gel, viscosity enhancers, prodrug, penetration enhancers, microparticles, liposomes, niosomes, ocular inserts, implants, intravitreal injections, nanoparticles, nanosuspension, microemulsion, in situ-forming gel, iontophoresis, and periocular injections to improve the ocular bioavailability of drug and provide continuous and controlled release of the drug to the anterior and posterior chamber of the eye and selected pharmacological future challenges in ophthalmology. In near future, a great deal of attention will be paid to develop noninvasive sustained drug release for both anterior and posterior segment eye disorders. Current momentum in the invention of new drug delivery systems hold a promise toward much improved therapies for the treatment of vision-threatening disorders.