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Trends in Formulation Approaches for Sustained Drug Delivery to the Posterior Segment of the Eye

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Abstract

The eye, an intricate organ comprising physical and physiological barriers, poses a significant challenge for ophthalmic physicians seeking to treat serious ocular diseases affecting the posterior segment, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Despite extensive efforts, the delivery of therapeutic drugs to the rear part of the eye remains an unresolved issue. This comprehensive review delves into conventional and innovative formulation strategies for drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye. By utilizing alternative nanoformulation approaches such as liposomes, nanoparticles, and microneedle patches, researchers and clinicians can overcome the limitations of conventional eye drops and achieve more effective drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye. These innovative strategies offer improved drug penetration, prolonged residence time, and controlled release, enhancing therapeutic outcomes for ocular diseases. Moreover, this article explores recently approved delivery systems that leverage diverse polymer technologies, such as chitosan and hyaluronic acid, to regulate drug-controlled release over an extended period. By offering a comprehensive understanding of the available formulation strategies, this review aims to empower researchers and clinicians in their pursuit of developing highly effective treatments for posterior-segment ocular diseases.

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Data Availability

The present work does not involve any additional data to represent.

Abbreviations

AMD:

Age-related macular disease

BRB:

Blood-retinal barrier

DM:

Diabetic mellitus

DME:

Diabetic macular edema

DR:

Diabetic retinopathy

EVA:

Ethylene-vinyl acetate

NDDS:

Novel drug delivery systems

NP:

Nanoparticles

NPDR:

Non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy

PCL:

Poly(caprolactone)

PDR:

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy

PEO:

Polyethylene oxides

PLA:

Polylactic acid,

PLGA:

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)

PMMA:

Poly(methyl methacrylate)

PVA:

Polyvinyl alcohol

PVR:

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy

TA:

Triamcinolone acetonide

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

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Acknowledgements

The authors of this review work are thankful to the director, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, for providing all the support to complete the work. The authors acknowledge Biorender.com that was used for preparation of graphical abstract. Arpon Biswas, Amol Chhatrapati Bisen, Sristi Agrawal, and Sachin Nashik Sanap are also thankful to the Indian Council of Medical Research for providing the necessary funds. CSIR-CDRI allotted communication number is 10682.

Funding

This work is financially supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research, Senior Research Fellowship. Fellowship Number: 3/1/3(2)/OPH/2020-NCD-II.

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  1. Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetic Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, B.S. 10/1, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow, 226031, India

    Arpon Biswas, Abhijit Deb Choudhury, Amol Chhatrapati Bisen, Sristi Agrawal, Sachin Nashik Sanap, Sarvesh Kumar Verma, Anjali Mishra, Shivansh Kumar & Rabi Sankar Bhatta

  2. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India

    Arpon Biswas, Abhijit Deb Choudhury & Sarvesh Kumar Verma

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Contributions

AB conceived the topic, wrote the manuscript, and created tables and figures. ADC, ACB, SA, SNS, SKV, AM, and SK performed proof reading along with preparation of graphical abstract. RSB revised, edited, and approved the final version of the draft.

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Correspondence to Rabi Sankar Bhatta.

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Biswas, A., Choudhury, A.D., Bisen, A.C. et al. Trends in Formulation Approaches for Sustained Drug Delivery to the Posterior Segment of the Eye. AAPS PharmSciTech 24, 217 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-023-02673-x

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