title: Nanomaterials for ocular drug delivery.
abstract: Efficient drug delivery to the eye remains a challenging task for pharmaceutical scientists. Due to the various anatomical barriers and the clearance mechanisms prevailing in the eye, conventional drug delivery systems, such as eye drop solutions, suffer from low bioavailability. More invasive methods, such as intravitreal injections and implants, cause adverse effects in the eye. Recently, an increasing number of scientists have turned to nanomaterial-based drug delivery systems to address the challenges faced by conventional methods. This paper highlights recent applications of various nanomaterials, such as polymeric micelles, hydrogels, liposomes, niosomes, dendrimers, and cyclodextrins as ocular drug delivery systems to enhance the bioavailability of ocular therapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L3G1, Canada.
authors.forename: Shengyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lyndon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Frank X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D003505:Cyclodextrins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008823:Micelles; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003505:Cyclodextrins; D050091:Dendrimers; D020100:Hydrogels; D008081:Liposomes; D008823:Micelles; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions