Recent Advances in Nanoparticulate Ocular Drug Delivery Systems: Strategies to Overcome Ocular Barriers and Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy

Abstract

Ocular drug delivery is a significant challenge because of the eye's unique structure and function. These characteristics limit how well drugs can penetrate and lead to low effectiveness of standard eye treatments. Common methods like eye drops, ointments, injections, and implants often need to be applied frequently. They can also lead to systemic side effects and issues with patient compliance. Recent progress in nanotechnology offers promising ways to address these challenges with nanoparticulate drug delivery systems. Nanocarriers can improve corneal penetration, extend the time drugs stay on the eye's surface, protect drugs from breaking down, allow for controlled and consistent drug release, and enhance their effectiveness while reducing how often patients need to dose and minimising systemic toxicity. Different nanoscale delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, nanocapsules, nanospheres, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, polymeric nanoparticles, and nanomicelles, have shown great potential in boosting eye drug effectiveness and enabling targeted delivery. Additionally, these systems come with benefits like high drug retention rates, better stability, easier sterilisation, and improved patient compliance. This review looks at the latest developments in nanoparticulate ocular drug delivery systems. It highlights their benefits, how they work, and their possible uses in treating eye diseases. The advancements in ocular nanomedicine aim to lead to safer, more effective, and more user-friendly eye treatments for future medical use.