Polysaccharide-based nanocarriers for ocular drug delivery

Abstract

Obtaining successful ocular formulations able to support an efficient drug concentration at the target tissue for an appropriate period of time is an interesting challenge for modern pharmaceutical technology. In this sense, nanotechnology is one of the available strategies to obtain a drug carrier system that allows access to different compartments of the eye in order to deliver drugs to the desired site. Biodegradable polymers such as polysaccharides are promising biomaterials for the production of biocompatible and biodegradable nanocarriers (NCs). Different types of polysaccharide NCs are capable of improving the transport of drugs after ocular application and they can be either polysaccharide-matrix carriers or polysaccharide-coated carriers, depending on whether polysaccharide is used as a matrix or as a coating, respectively. This review focuses on recent advances achieved by polysaccharide-based NCs for the treatment of ocular disorders.