A review on revolutionizing ophthalmic therapy: Unveiling the potential of chitosan, hyaluronic acid, cellulose, cyclodextrin, and poloxamer in eye disease treatments

Ocular disorders, encompassing both common ailments like dry eye syndrome and more severe situations for instance age-related macular degeneration, present significant challenges to effective treatment due to the intricate architecture and physiological barriers of the eye. Polysaccharides are emerging as potential solutions for drug delivery to the eyes due to their compatibility with living organisms, natural biodegradability, and adhesive properties. In this review, we explore not only the recent advancements in polysaccharide-based technologies and their transformative potential in treating ocular illnesses, offering renewed optimism for both patients and professionals but also anatomy of the eye and the significant obstacles hindering drug transportation, followed by an investigation into various drug administration methods and their ability to overcome ocular-specific challenges. Our focus lies on biological adhesive polymers, including chitosan, hyaluronic acid, cellulose, cyclodextrin, and poloxamer, known for their adhesive characteristics enhancing drug retention on ocular surfaces and increasing bioavailability. A detailed analysis of material designs used in ophthalmic formulations, such as gels, lenses, eye drops, nanofibers, microneedles, microspheres, and nanoparticles, their advantages and limitations, the potential of formulations in improving therapeutic outcomes for various eye conditions. Moreover, we underscore the discovery of novel polysaccharides and their potential uses in ocular drug delivery.

Advancements in Nanogels for Enhanced Ocular Drug Delivery: Cutting-Edge Strategies to Overcome Eye Barriers

Nanomedicine in gel or particle formation holds considerable potential for enhancing passive and active targeting within ocular drug delivery systems. The complex barriers of the eye, exemplified by the intricate network of closely connected tissue structures, pose significant challenges for drug administration. Leveraging the capability of engineered nanomedicine offers a promising approach to enhance drug penetration, particularly through active targeting agents such as protein peptides and aptamers, which facilitate targeted release and heightened bioavailability. Simultaneously, DNA carriers have emerged as a cutting-edge class of active-targeting structures, connecting active targeting agents and illustrating their potential in ocular drug delivery applications. This review aims to consolidate recent findings regarding the optimization of various nanoparticles, i.e., hydrogel-based systems, incorporating both passive and active targeting agents for ocular drug delivery, thereby identifying novel mechanisms and strategies. Furthermore, the review delves into the potential application of DNA nanostructures, exploring their role in the development of targeted drug delivery approaches within the field of ocular therapy.

Carbohydrate polymer-based bioadhesive formulations and their potentials for the treatment of ocular diseases: A review

Eyes are directly exposed to the outer environment and susceptible to infections, leading to various ocular disorders. Local medication is preferred to treat eye diseases due to its convenience and compliance. However, the rapid clearance of the local formulations highly limits the therapeutic efficacy. In the past decades, several carbohydrate bioadhesive polymers (CBPs), such as chitosan and hyaluronic acid, have been used in ophthalmology for sustained ocular drug delivery. These CBP-based delivery systems have improved the treatment of ocular diseases to a large extent but also caused some undesired effects. Herein, we aim to summarize the applications of some typical CBPs (including chitosan, hyaluronic acid, cellulose, cyclodextrin, alginate and pectin) in treating ocular diseases from the general view of ocular physiology, pathophysiology and drug delivery, and to provide a comprehensive understanding of the design of the CBP-based formulations for ocular use. The patents and clinical trials of CBPs for ocular management are also discussed. In addition, a discussion on the concerns of CBPs in clinical use and the possible solutions is presented.

Chitosan/silica: A hybrid formulation to mitigate phytopathogens

Long-term and indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides to mitigate plant pathogens have created serious issues of water health, soil contamination, non-target organisms, resistant species, and unpredictable environmental and human health hazards. These constraints have forced scientists to develop alternative plant disease management strategies to reduce synthetic chemical' dependency. During the last 20 years, biological agents and resistance elicitors have been the most important used alternatives. Silica-based materials/chitosan with a dual mode of action have been proposed as promising alternatives to prevent plant diseases through direct and indirect mechanisms. Moreover, the combined application of nano-silica and chitosan, due to their controllable morphology, high loading capacity, low toxicity, and efficient encapsulation, act as suitable carriers for biological agents, pesticides, and essential oils, making them proper candidates for mitigation of phytopathogens. Based on this potential, this literature study reviewed the silica and chitosan properties and their function in the plant. It also assessed their role in the fighting against soil and aerial phytopathogens, directly and indirectly, as novel hybrid formulations in future managing platforms.