Appraising the Competency of Lipid Nano-Platforms as Non-invasive Paradigms for the Treatment of Ocular Inflammations: A Review

Abstract

Ocular inflammation is one of the common ophthalmic disorders triggered by different underlying causes and affecting both anterior and posterior segments of the eye. The functional barriers within the eye greatly impede the efficient ocular drug delivery, and hence the efficient relief of inflammation. The conventional treatment approaches are often limited to the topical applications of eye solutions, suspensions, or ointments, in addition to the intravitreal injections in case of diffuse inflammatory conditions. These strategies suffer from poor patient acceptance and compliance because of their ineffectiveness and lack of safety. During the past few decades, research attention was focused on the development of innovative ophthalmic dosage forms. Lipid nano-platforms had particular importance in drug delivery in terms of safety, biocompatibility, sustainment of drug release, enhancement of drug bioavailability, and hence patient compliance. This review attempts to highlight the current state of lipid-based nanocarriers as a promising non-invasive approach in the management of superficial and diffuse ocular inflammations with special emphasis on their reported outcomes, and also to focus on future perspectives to fill the gaps in this area.