Enhancing Ocular Drug Delivery: The Effect of Physicochemical Properties of Nanoparticles on the Mechanism of Their Uptake by Human Cornea Epithelial Cells.

This study investigates the effect of nanoparticle size and surface chemistry on interactions of the nanoparticles with human cornea epithelial cells (HCECs). Poly(lactic--glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles were synthesized using the emulsion-solvent evaporation method and surface modified with mucoadhesive (alginate [ALG] and chitosan [CHS]) and mucopenetrative (polyethylene glycol [PEG]) polymers. Particles were found to be monodisperse (polydispersity index (PDI) below 0.

Evaluation of commercial soft contact lenses for ocular drug delivery: A review.

Soft contact lenses have generated growing interest in ocular drug delivery due to their potential to enhance drug bioavailability in ocular tissues. Commercially available soft contact lenses offer several advantages for ocular drug delivery as they are manufactured on a large scale, which guarantees the availability of a consistent and reproducible product, and their favorable safety profile is well-established through broad clinical use. Here we review the rationale for using commercially available soft contact lenses for ocular drug delivery; summarize the evolution of the materials used in contact lens fabrication; and explore various methods used to improve the drug release characteristics and its tissue penetration.