Visual Overview
Abstract
Short precorneal residence time and poor transocular membrane permeability are the major challenges associated with topical ocular drug delivery. In the present research, the efficiency of the electrolyte-triggered sol-to-gel–forming system of natamycin (NT) transfersomes was investigated for enhanced and prolonged ophthalmic delivery. Transfersomes were optimized by varying the molar ratios of phospholipid, sorbitan monostearate (Span) and tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS). NT transfersome formulations (FNs) prepared with a 1:1 molar ratio of phospholipid-to-Span and low levels of TPGS showed optimal morphometric properties, and were thus selected to fabricate the in situ gelling system. Gellan gum–based (0.3% w/v) FN-loaded formulations (FNGs) immediately formed an in situ gel in the simulated tear fluid, with considerable viscoelastic characteristics. In vitro cytotoxicity in corneal epithelial cells and corneal histology studies demonstrated the ocular safety and cytocompatibility of these optimized formulations. Transcorneal permeability of NT from these formulations was significantly higher than in the control suspension. Moreover, the ocular disposition studies of NT, from the FNs and FNGs, in New Zealand male albino rabbits demonstrated the superiority of the electrolyte-sensitive FNGs in terms of NT delivery to the ocular tissues.
Footnotes
- Received January 11, 2019.
- Accepted March 4, 2019.
This project was supported by the National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute [Grant 1R01EY022120] and a Research to Prevent Blindness grant to the Hamilton Eye Institute.
The content of this work is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
The authors report no conflicts of interest.
- Copyright © 2019 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics