Polymeric Nanoparticulate Systems: A Potential Approach for Ocular Drug Delivery

Abstract

Ocular disorders are a major health concern worldwide that has a powerful impact on affl icted individuals and their families and are associated with enormous socioeconomical consequences. The prevalence of ocular disease conditions is remarkably increasing, and the pharmaceutical industry has taken a note of this signifi cant unmet need and is putting enormous efforts in the development of safe and effective drug candidates for the treatment of ocular diseases. In addition to developing safe and effective drug candidates, their delivery to the target tissues is also of critical importance. Drugs can be delivered to the eye following local or systemic administration. The major goal in ocular drug delivery is to obtain therapeutic drug concentrations at the intended site of action for a reasonable period of time by overcoming biological barriers. Among the delivery systems designed so far for these purposes, those of a nanoscale size are particularly attractive from the easier administration and patient acceptability point of view. Multifaceted features of polymers can be effi ciently exploited by engineering them into polymeric nanoparticles for ocular purpose to overcome the drawbacks of existing ocular therapy. This chapter aims to describe the actual potential of polymer-based nanoparticles for anterior and posterior segment ocular diseases. The chapter explores the suitable polymers and fabrication technology for ocular nanoparticles. It further summarizes the ability of polymeric nanoparticles by citing studies done in the fi eld of treatment of anterior and posterior ocular conditions.