Abstract

IN-SITU GELLING SYSTEM FOR OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY

*Dr. Kinjal Bipin Kumar Gandhi, Ms. Abhirami K. P., Ms. Anjana Gigy and Mr. Adarsh P. and Mr. Mohammed Saleem

ABSTRACT

The eye is one of the most sensitive body organs, and drug delivery to ocular tissues is a serious challenge for pharmaceutical scientists. There are a number of ocular physiological barriers to drug delivery, such as the intricate anatomy of the eye, poor absorptive surface area, poor corneal permeability, nasolacrimal drainage, protein binding in lacrimal fluid, and poor retention capacity of the conjunctival sac. Consequently, less than 5% of an administered dose actually reaches the site of action, hence suboptimal therapeutic effects. In order to circumvent such shortcomings, novel drug delivery systems are being investigated, and one such system is in situ gelling systems, which have shown great promise. Such systems are delivered as liquids, and based on physiological stimuli like temperature or pH, they go through sol-to-gel transition, improving drug retention and bioavailability and diminishing systemic toxicity. This review gives an overview of ocular drug delivery based on in situ gel, including the different gelling methods, polymers used, mechanisms of gelation, and evaluation of in situ gel.

Keywords: Insitu Gel, Ocular Drug Delivery, Sol-To-Gel Transition, Thermosensitive Gel, Sensitive Gel, Ion-Sensitive Gel.