title: Application of a drug delivery system to a steroidal ophthalmic preparation with lipid microspheres.
abstract: The applicability of a drug delivery system to an ophthalmic preparation was examined using lipid microspheres containing hydrocortisone 17-butyrate 21-propionate (HBP). A 3H-labelled HBP ophthalmic suspension and 3H-labelled HBP lipid microspheres were applied to rabbit eyes, which were then enucleated at fixed intervals to determine the level of 3H-labelled HBP in ocular tissues. The lipid microspheres were shown to deliver the drug to the anterior ocular tissues more effectively than the ophthalmic suspension. It is suggested that a lipid microsphere ophthalmic preparation of various lipophilic drugs including steroids may be useful as a drug delivery system for ophthalmic therapy.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008081:Liposomes; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; C033014:hydrocortisone 17-butyrate 21-propionate; D006854:Hydrocortisone