Ocular drug delivery systems.

Abstract

Abstract Topical eye drugs are the most convenient and conventional ways of drug administration to the eyes, especially in the cases of anterior segment ailments. Drug delivery is restricted due to the presence of various static barriers such as the presence of the corneal layer, sclera, retina, blood retina barriers, and certain dynamic barriers including lymphatic clearance, conjunctival blood flow and tear dilution. A major challenge of the ocular drug systems is the delivery of drugs to the posterior segments of the eye. In recent years certain influx transporters to the ocular tissues have been researched and discovered. Liposome-, nanoparticle- and nanomicelle-mediated drug transport can overcome static and dynamic barriers to drug delivery in the eye. The use of biodegradable polymer materials as novel drug carriers for sustained release of the drug at the target site is nowadays a thoroughly researched field. Non-invasive biopolymer-based ocular drug delivery systems, which overcome all the limitations of topical delivery, are attracting considerable interest. This chapter presents a detailed description of various biopolymers used in ocular delivery strategies, and discusses their promising future.