Particulate Systems in the Enhancement of the Antiglaucomatous Drug Pharmacodynamics: A Meta-Analysis Study

Abstract

Glaucoma is a very serious disease that can lead to blindness in severe cases. In an attempt to increase the efficacy of the drugs used in treating this disease, many particulate systems (micro/nano and lipid-based/nonlipid-based) have been exploited. In this study, the meta-analysis approach was implemented in order to explore the published studies and extract the literature-based evidence (proof-of-concept studies = 16) that the particulate systems increase the efficiency of the investigated intraocular pressure drugs as demonstrated by the increase in the area under effect curve. Comparison of micron particles versus nanoparticles on the one hand and lipid-based versus nonlipid-based on the other hand, as subgroups of the meta-analysis, was also included in the study where the latter comparison led to insignificant differences, whereas the former has proven the superiority of the nanoparticles over the micronized counterparts.