Preparation of nanocarriers for ocular administration

Opportunistic pathogens are activated in any ocular disease, because of the anatomical and physiological structure of the eye. For this reason, ocular fungal infections, which are expected to be less in the climate zone where our country is located, are more common. Fungal ocular diseases are one of the most dangerous eye diseases due to their course and outcome and should be treated promptly. Ocular inflammation can be treated with oral NSAIDs, systemic/topical steroids and corticosteroids. If the infected agent has diagnosed, antibiotics or antifungal agents may be preferred. However, an ocular form of an antifungal agent is not available. Micelles are colloidal dispersions which form dispers phase in dispersion medium. Polymers/surfactans have the affinity to self-assemble into micelles above the critical micelle concentration. They can provide many advantages as controlled and targeted drug delivery, solubilization of poorly soluble drugs, increase the bioavability, reduced toxicity and easy preparation of large quantities and reproducible generating. Different active ingredients have been applied to the eye in the form of micelles and the micelles have been accumulate in the inflammation area. Posaconazole is an antifungal agent from thiazoles which is the most preferred group in antifungal therapy. There have been case studies of keratitis and sclerokeratitis in literature which are treated by orally and topical posaconazole. The suspension form of posaconazole was used topical treatment after diluted. In this study, characterization, stability, in vitro release, ex vivo corneal and scleral transition, cell culture studies were performed in posaconazole micelles produced using copolymer / surfactant. Keywords: Polymeric/Surfactan Micelle, Posaconazole, Ocular Drug Delivery System, Ocular Drug Release The present work was supported by the Research Fund of Istanbul University. Project No. 20958