Design, Development and Characterization of Ophthalmic Nanoemulsion using Microfluidizer as a Technology

Abstract

Delivery of drugs using conventional dosage forms such as solutions is a challenge in the treatment of ocular diseases like Dry eye disease. The chief hurdles for this type of drug delievery are less corneal contact time, lachrymal fluid secretion and various barriers like lachrymal fluid-eye barriers and blood-ocular barriers. A number of formulations have been made to improve the penetration of drug and extend the contact time of drug when applied topically into eye. Nanoemulsion as a potential drug carrier for ocular drug delivery provides advantage. This is due to properties like thermodynamic stability, low surface tension, lower viscosity, smaller globule size which ultimately improves ocular drug delivery into eye. In this nanoemulsion Castor oil was selected as lipophilic phase, Tween 80 and glycerol were used as surfactant and tonicity adjusting agent respectively. Nanoemulsion was prepared using Microfluidizer technology and evaluated for various properties like pH, viscosity, globule size and stability studies. Optimized batch 14 showed 7.23 pH, 48.09 cps viscosity, globule size of emulsion was observed D (10), D (50), D(90) 102.3,464.7,1976.1 nm respectively. PDI and zeta potential value was 0.320 and -30.23 mv respectively. Stability study was carried out for optimized batch 14 for 6 Months at 40ᴼC/25% RH. From the reported results, it can be proposed that patient compliance can improve compared to eye drops. It may enhance the ocular penetration of drug in tissues by providing high corneal interaction period. Keywords:- Ocular drug delivery, Dry eye condition, Ophthalmic emulsion, Microfluidizer