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Microemulsion drops may provide better bioavailability than standard topical meds
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Microemulsion-based topical eye drops may have advantages for ophthalmic use, a Brazilian animal study suggests. The vehicle was well-tolerated and appeared to provide a higher degree of bioavailability for administration of dexamethasone, the study authors said.
A microemulsion-based delivery system might allow the possibility of decreasing the number of applications of eye drops needed per day, said Silvia Ligorio Fialho, MD, and Armando da Silva-Cunha, MD, of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. They developed an oil-in-water microemulsion containing dexamethasone and evaluated its pharmacokinetics after topical application in rabbit eyes.
The microemulsion, which was prepared by the titration technique, showed acceptable physico-chemical behavior and good stability for 3 months, the authors said. The vehicle did not significantly alter the eyelids, conjunctiva, cornea or iris in rabbit testing. When compared with a conventional preparation, the formulation showed a greater penetration of dexamethasone into the anterior segment and a longer drug-release time, the authors said.
The study is published in the December issue of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.