Antioxidant-Loaded Mucoadhesive Nanoparticles for Eye Drug Delivery: A New Strategy to Reduce Oxidative Stress

There are several approaches to treat ocular diseases, which can be invasive or non-invasive. Within the non-invasive, new pharmaceutical strategies based on nanotechnology and mucoadhesive polymers emerging methodologies, aim reach an efficient treatment of eye diseases. The this work was development novel chitosan/hyaluronic acid nanoparticle systems with properties, intended encapsulate antioxidant molecules (e.g., crocin) aiming reduce oxidative stress and, consequently, disease. An ultraviolet (UV) absorber molecule, actinoquinol, also added nanoparticles, further decrease stress. developed nanoparticles were characterized results showed a mean particle size lower than 400 nm, polydispersity index 0.220 ± 0.034, positive zeta potential, high yield. in terms pH, osmolality, viscosity. Mucoadhesion studies involving determination viscosity, tackiness, strong interaction between mucin. In vitro release using synthetic membranes Franz diffusion cells conducted unravel drug kinetic profile. Ex pig scleras performed evaluate permeation nanoparticles. Furthermore, assays ARPE-19 (adult retinal pigment epithelium) cell line that efficiently low cytotoxicity. Thus, promising system for delivery antioxidants eye, by increasing their residence time controlling delivery.