The prominence of the dosage form design to treat ocular diseases

Abstract

The eye is susceptible to various diseases commonly difficult to treat. To overcome the barriers imposed by this organ for required drugs penetration, technological strategies have been implemented to ocular formulations. Among them are the use of temperature or electric stimuli and the development of nanoparticles. The objective of this review is to present the main barriers to ocular drug delivery and to discuss strategies used in the development of ocular dosage forms, primarily for topical delivery, to increase the local bioavailability of drugs, target their delivery and increase patient compliance. Results obtained in the last years related to the topical administration of liposomes, dendrimers, iontophoresis, among other nanoparticulate systems focused on ophthalmic delivery, will be addressed. Finally, some clinical trials and marketed formulations that use nanotechnology to topically treat eye diseases will be presented.