Nanomedicine for glaucoma: liposomes provide sustained release of latanoprost in the eye

• Published in: International journal of nanomedicine Vol. 7; no. default; pp. 123 - 131
• Main Authors: Natarajan, Jayaganesh V, Ang, Marcus, Darwitan, Anastasia, Chattopadhyay, Sujay, Wong, Tina T, Venkatraman, Subbu S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.01.2012; Dove Press; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Administration, Ophthalmic; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Antihypertensive Agents - administration & dosage; Antihypertensive Agents - chemistry; Antihypertensive Agents - pharmacokinetics; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Stability; EggPC; Eye - metabolism; Female; Glaucoma; Glaucoma - drug therapy; Glaucoma - metabolism; Injections, Intraocular; Intraocular Pressure - drug effects; latanoprost; Liposomes - administration & dosage; Liposomes - chemistry; nanoliposomes; nanomedicine; Nanomedicine - methods; Original Research; Particle Size; Phosphatidylcholines - administration & dosage; Phosphatidylcholines - chemistry; Phosphatidylcholines - pharmacology; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic - administration & dosage; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic - chemistry; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic - pharmacokinetics; Rabbits; sustained ocular delivery; latanoprost; nanomedicine; EggPC; glaucoma; sustained ocular delivery; nanoliposomes
• ISSN: 1178-2013; 1176-9114; 1178-2013
• DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S25468

To report the development and therapeutic evaluation of a liposomal nanocarrier for sustained release of latanoprost, in the rabbit eye. We fabricated latanoprost-loaded egg-phosphatidylcholine (EggPC) liposomes using the film hydration technique. The delivery vehicles were nano-sized (Z avg = 109 ± 18 nm), had a narrow poly dispersity index (PDI = 0.19 ± 0.04), and a very high loading efficiency (94% ± 5%). Based on in vitro data, we evaluated this formulation for lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in rabbit eyes. Following a single subconjunctival injection of the latanoprost loaded formulation, the eyes were clinically monitored and the IOP recorded. Latanoprost-loaded EggPC liposomes demonstrated a high drug/lipid mole ratio of 0.181, remained stable for at least 6 months on storage (4°C), and at least 1 month at 25°C. A slow and sustained release of 60% of latanoprost was achieved by 14 days in the in vitro release study. The same formulation demonstrated a greater sustained IOP lowering effect compared with daily administration of topical latanoprost beyond 90 days (4.8 ± 1.5 vs 2.5 ± 0.9 mmHg; P < 0.001). No signs of inflammation were evident in the eyes from slit-lamp examination analysis. The loading required for a long-term sustained delivery of latanoprost for up to 90 days in the rabbit eyes was achieved with EggPC liposomes. A single injection of latanoprost-loaded EggPC liposomes can lower the IOP for up to 90 days, with a greater IOP lowering effect than daily topical administration of latanoprost.