A Review on Patented Nanotechnology used for Ocular Drug Delivery

This is a review on nanotechnology in general and particularly it occupies different systems of ocular drug delivery. This review specially focuses on US Patents of nanoparticles for ocular drug delivery. Nanotechnology is one of the best approaches to overcome challenges of conventional ocular drug delivery. In spite the number of products related to nanotechnology available in market is very less and ophthalmic product related to nanotechnology is still in its earlier stage. FDA website notes that only 21 ocular drugs were approved in the last 10 years; 30 new drugs, if one looks back to 1995. No ocular drugs were approved in 1995 or 2003. It is proved that efficiency of nanoparticles for ocular drug delivery is much better than other novel drug delivery systems in terms of dose, stability, cell targeting, particle size etc. Nanohydrogel, lipid nanoparticles, nanosuspension, etc. are being used successfully in ocular nanotechnology. Even cyclodextrins, soft lenses are also used fruitfully for the same purpose. Some aspects associated with these techniques for ocular delivery are discussed in this review.