Receptor-Targeted prodrug approach for retina and posterior segment disease

Abstract

Extensive research has been done in the field of ocular study, to develop and to enhance ocular bioavailability of drugs. Regardless it still faces challenges, as less than 5% of the dose administered reaches to the target site, which is insufficient to produce a pharmacological effect. The chemical methods including the development of prodrugs have proven to be a promising approach to improve ocular drug residence time and bioavailability. Utilization of prodrugs for the treatment of posterior segment diseases was observed to be an innovative way to overcome barriers pertaining to drug delivery to the specific site. Prodrug effectively permeates the external ocular barriers, cornea and scleral tissues and has a greater partition coefficient. Prodrug approach offers a few points of interest like enhancement of drug solubility, stability, site-specific delivery, decreased toxicity and efflux pump evasion. This section stresses on hypothesis and uses of receptor-focused prodrug approach for ocular drug delivery systems.