Environmentally Responsive Ophthalmic Gel Formulation of Carteolol Hydrochloride

Three Major Causes of Metabolic Retinal Degenerations and Three Ways to Avoid Them

An imbalance of homeostasis in the retina leads to neuron loss and this eventually results in a deterioration of vision. If the stress threshold is exceeded, different protective/survival mechanisms are activated. Numerous key molecular actors contribute to prevalent metabolically induced retinal diseases-the three major challenges are age-related alterations, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. These diseases have complex dysregulation of glucose-, lipid-, amino acid or purine metabolism. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on possible ways of preventing or circumventing retinal degeneration by available methods. We intend to provide a unified background, common prevention and treatment rationale for these disorders and identify the mechanisms through which these actions protect the retina. We suggest a role for herbal medicines, internal neuroprotective substances and synthetic drugs targeting four processes: parainflammation and/or glial cell activation, ischemia and related reactive oxygen species and vascular endothelial growth factor accumulation, apoptosis and/or autophagy of nerve cells and an elevation of ocular perfusion pressure and/or intraocular pressure. We conclude that in order to achieve substantial preventive or therapeutic effects, at least two of the mentioned pathways should be targeted synergistically. A repositioning of some drugs is considered to use them for the cure of the other related conditions.

A comparative study between a transscleral sustained-release device and eyedrops on intraocular distribution of carteolol hydrochloride

The objectives of this study were to develop a sustained-release device for carteolol hydrochloride (CH) and investigate any potential difference in the intraocular distribution of this agent between the transscleral administration of the device and treatment with eyedrops. The device was formulated with photocurable resin, poly (ethyleneglycol) dimethacrylate, to fit within the curve of the rabbit eyeball. In vitro study showed that CH was released in a sustained-release manner for 2 weeks. The concentration of CH in the retina, choroid/retinal pigment epithelium, sclera, iris, and aqueous humor was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Transscleral administration was able to deliver CH to the posterior segment (i.e., retina and choroid/retinal pigment epithelium) rather than the anterior segment (i.e., aqueous humor), while eyedrops delivered CH only to the anterior segment. Transscleral administration could deliver CH to aqueous humor at half the concentration versus treatment with eyedrops and reduced intraocular pressure (IOP) at 1 day after implantation; however, the IOP-lowering effect was not sustained thereafter. In conclusion, transscleral drug delivery may be a useful method for the reduction of IOP. Notably, the aqueous concentration must be equal to that delivered by the eyedrops, and this approach might be preferable for drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye.

The gamut of perspectives, challenges, and recent trends for in situ hydrogels: a smart ophthalmic drug delivery vehicle

Polymers have a major role in the controlled delivery of pharmaceutical compounds to a targeted portion of the body. In this quest, a high priority research area is the targeted delivery of ophthalmic drugs to the interior regions of the eyes. Due to their complex anatomical/biochemical nature. This necessitates an advanced drug delivery cargo that could administer a therapeutic agent to the targeted location by evading various obstacles. The ongoing focus is to design an ophthalmic formulation by coupling it with a smart in situ forming polymeric hydrogel. These smart macromolecules have an array of unique theranostic properties and can utilize the in vivo biological parameters as a stimulus to change their macromolecular state from liquid to gel. The fast gelling hydrogel improves the corneal contact time, facilitates sustained drug release, resists the burst-out effect, and assists drug permeability to anterior regions. This review summarizes the rationale, scientific objectives, properties, and classification of the biologically important in situ hydrogels in the niche of ophthalmic drug delivery. The current trends and prospectives of the array of stimulus-responsive polymers, copolymers, and nanomaterials are discussed broadly. The crucial biointerfacial attributes with pros and cons are reviewed by investigating the effect of the nature of polymers as well as the ratio/percentage of additives and copolymers that influence the overall performance.

Improved corneal bioavailability of ofloxacin: biodegradable microsphere-loaded ion-activated in situ gel delivery system

The aim of the study was to improve corneal penetration and bioavailability of ofloxacin (OFX) eye preparations. OFX was incorporated in poly (lactide-co-glycolide) as biodegradable microspheres using oil in oil emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The prepared OFX microspheres were then incorporated in Gelrite^® in situ gel preparation. In addition, OFX Gelrite-based in situ gel formulations were prepared. OFX formulations were characterized for gelling capacity, viscosity, and rheological properties. Release studies for OFX microspheres, OFX in situ gel, and OFX-loaded microspheres in situ gel formulations were carried out to investigate release characteristics of the drug. The prepared OFX formulations were then investigated in vivo compared with commercially available OFX eyedrops. Results showed that the optimum Gelrite concentration was at 0.4%–0.7% w/v; the prepared formulations were viscous liquid transformed into a pourable gel immediately after the addition of simulated tear fluid with a gelling factor of 27–35. Incorporation of OFX-loaded microspheres in Gelrite solution (0.4% w/v) significantly altered the release profiles of OFX-loaded microspheres in situ gel formula compared with the corresponding OFX gels and OFX microspheres. In vivo results in rabbits showed that OFX-loaded microspheres in situ gel formula improved the relative bioavailability by 11.7-fold compared with the commercially available OFX eyedrops. In addition, the longer duration of action of OFX-loaded microspheres in situ gel formula preparations is thought to avoid frequent instillations, which improves patient tolerability and compliance.

Recent advances in ocular drug delivery

Amongst the various routes of drug delivery, the field of ocular drug delivery is one of the most interesting and challenging endeavors facing the pharmaceutical scientist. Recent research has focused on the characteristic advantages and limitations of the various drug delivery systems, and further research will be required before the ideal system can be developed. Administration of drugs to the ocular region with conventional delivery systems leads to short contact time of the formulations on the epithelium and fast elimination of drugs. This transient residence time involves poor bioavailability of drugs which can be explained by the tear production, non-productive absorption and impermeability of corneal epithelium. Anatomy of the eye is shortly presented and is connected with ophthalmic delivery and bioavailability of drugs. In the present update on ocular dosage forms, chemical delivery systems such as prodrugs, the use of cyclodextrins to increase solubility of various drugs, the concept of penetration enhancers and other ocular drug delivery systems such as polymeric gels, bioadhesive hydrogels, in-situ forming gels with temperature-, pH-, or osmotically induced gelation, combination of polymers and colloidal systems such as liposomes, niosomes, cubosomes, microemulsions, nanoemulsions and nanoparticles are discussed. Novel ophthalmic delivery systems propose the use of many excipients to increase the viscosity or the bioadhesion of the product. New formulations like gels or colloidal systems have been tested with numerous active substances by in vitro and in vivo studies. Sustained drug release and increase in drug bioavailability have been obtained, offering the promise of innovation in drug delivery systems for ocular administration. Combining different properties of pharmaceutical formulations appears to offer a genuine synergy in bioavailability and sustained release. Promising results are obtained with colloidal systems which present very comfortable conditions of use and prolonged action.

New method for ophthalmic delivery of azithromycin by poloxamer/carbopol-based in situ gelling system

This study focused on preparation and evaluation of a thermosensitive and mucoadhesive in situ gelling ophthalmic system of azithromycin (ATM). Poloxamer 407 (P407) and poloxamer 188 (P188) were used as gelling agents. Addition of Carbopol 974P (CP 974P) to the gelling systems could increase the solubility of ATM by salt effect and enhance the mucoadhesive property of the systems. Gelation temperature of these systems ranged from 31.21-36.31 degrees C depending on the ratio of P407 and P188. Mucoadhesion force of the system composed of P407/P188/CP 974P (21/5/0.3%, w/v) was 2.3-fold that without carbopol 974P. Viscosity of the formulation was in a suitable range at 25 degrees C and pseudoplastic behavior was observed at 35 degrees C. The formulation exhibited a 24-h sustained release of ATM. In vivo resident experiments showed AUC(0-12) of ATM in rabbit tears increased by 1.78-fold for in situ gel compared with eye drop. At 12 h, tear concentrations exceeded minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoint for the most common causative pathogens of bacterial conjunctivitis by 2.8-fold. Results in vitro and in vivo indicated that this droppable gel performed better than ATM eye drop did.

l-Carnosine: multifunctional dipeptide buffer for sustained-duration topical ophthalmic formulations

Objectives

The use of L-carnosine as an excipient in topical ophthalmic formulations containing gellan gum, a carbohydrate polymer with in-situ gelling properties upon mixing with mammalian tear fluid, was developed as a novel platform to extend precorneal duration. Specific utilisation of L-carnosine as a buffer in gellan gum carrying vehicles was characterised.

Methods

Buffer capacity was evaluated using 7.5, 13.3, and 44.2 mM L-carnosine in a pH range of 5.5–7.5. Accelerated chemical stability was determined by HPLC at L-carnosine concentrations of 5–100 mM. Combinations of 7.5 mM L-carnosine with 0.06–0.6% (w/v) gellan gum were characterised rheologically. L-Carnosine-buffered solutions of gellan gum were tested for acute topical ocular tolerance in vivo in pigmented rabbits. A unique formulation combining timolol (which lowers intraocular pressure) in L-carnosine-buffered gellan gum was compared with Timoptic-XE in normotensive dogs.

Key findings

L-Carnosine exhibited optimal pharmaceutical characteristics for use as a buffer in chronically administered topical ocular formulations. Enhancement trends were observed in solution-to-gel transition of L-carnosine-buffered vehicles containing gellan gum vs comparators. Topical tolerability of L-carnosine-buffered gellan gum formulations and lowering of intraocular pressure were equivalent with timolol and Timoptic-XE.

Conclusions

Functional synergy between excipients in gellan gum formulations buffered with L-carnosine has potential for topical ocular dosage forms with sustained precorneal residence.