Ocular delivery of peptides and proteins

Abstract

The delivery of protein and peptide therapeutics through ocular route requires considerable knowledge and understanding about eye's anatomy and physiology. Although this delivery route has high potency and specificity, it exhibits difficulty in absorption through barriers resulting in lower bioavailability as well as crucial stability issues. Due to the complications associated with the most common injectable route for the peptide and protein delivery, there is a surge for the noninvasive route such as ocular which include intravitreal and periocular route. Newer techniques for delivery of these macromolecules involve targeting transporters or receptors to enhance specificity, while approaches such as nanocarriers, prodrug, mucoadhesion, and permeation enhancers have been employed to attain enhanced bioavailability. This chapter addresses pros and cons of ocular delivery of peptides and proteins, significant features of their chemistry, potential and challenges associated with their local and systemic delivery, as well as different ways to attain better protein bioavailability and stability.