INNOVATIONS IN OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY

• Sumit Goyal,*  
• Pranjali Dwivedi,  
• Jaya Kaushik,  
• Mayank Jhanwar,  
• Ankita Singh

Abstract

Background: Traditional ocular drug delivery methods via topical (eye drops and ointments) and systemic routes (oral or intravenous medications) yield suboptimal therapeutic drug concentrations intraocularly. Innovations aimed at improving the localization, duration, and efficacy of ocular drug delivery have shifted treatment paradigm by enhancing drug penetration, sustaining drug release and also enhancing patient compliance. Methods: Aim of this review is to summarize recent advancements in ocular drug delivery systems, to evaluate their clinical effectiveness and to discuss their potential to improve clinical outcomes. The review will also identify ongoing challenges and future research avenues leading to further progress in this field. Results: Recent advancements in ocular drug delivery systems are based on Nanotechnology-based delivery systems; Sustained-release implants and devices; Hydrogels and contact lens; Microneedle technology and Gene therapy vectors. Nanoparticles, nanomicelles, and nanoemulsions improve drug penetration and provide sustained release within ocular tissues. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable implants and devices offer prolonged drug delivery. Hydrogels and drug-embedded contact lenses improved patient comfort. Microneedle arrays enabling minimally invasive drug delivery directly to ocular tissues. Viral and non-viral vectors address underlying genetic causes in inherited retinal diseases. Conclusion: Traditional methods such as eye drops, ointments, and intravitreal injections have limitations, including poor bioavailability, frequent administration, and non-compliance. Emergence of novel delivery systems, including nanoparticles, microneedles, sustained-release implants, and gene therapy vectors, offers solutions to these challenges. These innovations provide controlled and sustained drug release, improved drug stability, and targeted delivery to specific ocular tissues, resulting in enhanced therapeutic outcomes and reduced side effects.

Keywords

Ocular drug delivery, nanotechnology, implants, hydrogels, microneedle, gene-therapy