Acrylic nanoparticles for ocular drug delivery

The efficacy of ophthalmic drug delivery systems is governed by their ability to increase the ocular residence time. Several attempts were made to minimize the rapid and extensive precorneal loss of the administered drug. Besides the application of eyedrops with an enhanced viscosity, ocular inserts or soft contact lenses, colloidal drug carriers, such as nanoparticles or nanocapsules as well as microspheres, were evaluated as ophthalmic delivery systems. In general, acrylic acid derivatives like polyalkyl cyanoacrylates and polyalkyl methacrylates were used for the preparation of drug carrier particles in the size range between 200 and 500 nm. In the past the therapeutic goal of the majority of the the studies with nanoparticles was focused on the improvement of the glaucoma treatment using parasympathomimetics and beta blockers. This review summarizes the present state of the preparation methods of acrylic nanoparticles and their application in several in vitro and in vivo systems. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects after the application of drug-loaded nanoparticles to rabbit eyes were compared to conventional eyedrop preparations.