Applications of microneedles in delivering drugs for various ocular diseases

Publication date: Available online 10 October 2019Source: Life SciencesAuthor(s): Pallavi Gupta, Khushwant S. YadavAbstractTreatment of majority of eye diseases involve the use of eye drops or eye ointments, which have major drawbacks of needing frequent administration, lower bioavailability and inability to cross the various eye barriers. This necessitates the use of novel delivery systems. Microneedles (MNs) as an alternate novel delivery system facilitate drug delivery to various ocular diseases with promising approaches in healthcare. Advances in pharmaceutical technology have made MNs provide localized, effective, less invasive and targeted drug delivery in the eye. The purpose of this review is to provide an insight to efficacious therapeutic applications the MNs can bring in various ocular diseases. Among these glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, uveitis, retinal vascular occlusion and retinitis pigmentosa are majorly discussed. Among the various types of MNs; solid coated, hollow and dissolving polymeric are specifically discussed for their applications in ocular diseases. In addition, MNs shows improvement in the visual acuity and decreases the progression of the different ocular disease.Graphical abstract
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research