2. Cationic Nanoemulsion for Ocular Delivery As the neuroretina is an extension of the central nervous system, the external eye and its adnexa are designed to protect the internal ocular structures, particularly from harmful chemicals [6]. The first ocular barrier is the eyelid which acts as a shutter preventing foreign substances from contact with the ocular surface. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical The second barrier is the tears which are continuously secreted to wash the ocular surface of exogenous substances. Hence, the tears are mainly responsible

for the short residence time and low absorption of drugs applied topically to the eye. The last protective ocular barrier is the cornea. The neuronal system of the cornea is able to detect changes in pH and osmolality which can induce reflex blinking and tearing. Also, the cornea forms a tight structural barrier made of three different tissue layers with alternating hydrophilic and lipophilic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical properties to prevent the intraocular absorption of unwanted substances [7]. Many attempts have been made to prolong the exposure time of topically applied ocular treatments and to improve their

bioavailability, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical therapeutic efficacy, or patient compliance by reducing the number of required administrations [8–10]. Hydrogels, now widely used in the selleck chemicals llc ophthalmic pharmaceutical industry, have enabled, for example, a decrease in the frequency of timolol administrations from two instillations daily to only one. Several excipients with Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical either viscosifying or bioadhesive properties are commonly used (carbopol gels, cellulose derivatives, dextran, gelatin glycerin, polyethylene glycol, poloxamer 407, polysorbate 80, propylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol,

polyvinyl pyrrolidone) to prolong the ocular residence time. The use of such excipients, however, remains applicable to only hydrophilic drugs and the advantage of increasing the viscosity must be balanced against the potential disadvantage of inducing ocular disturbances due to the blurring of vision as a result of a change in the refractive Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical index on the ocular surface. Furthermore, other disadvantages of higher viscosity are that more viscous solutions do not easily exit from the bottle tip and may impose limits to the sterilization options during manufacturing. Astemizole Most recently, sophisticated approaches like punctal plugs with active ingredient [11], contact lens-releasing glaucoma medications, and injectable biodegradable micro- and nanoparticles were proposed but are today at too early a stage to be available to patients [8]. In addition to the challenges of increasing exposure, numerous lipophilic and poorly water-soluble drugs have become available in recent years that could be applicable to the treatment of a variety of ocular conditions. These drugs represent a formulation challenge for pharmaceutical scientists because of aqueous solubility limitations.