Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Pharmacy - Department of Pharmaceutics

Glaucoma or high intraocular pressure (IOP) is an ocular disease that occurs when the balance between the amounts of the intraocular fluid produced and the amount that drains away is disturbed. This causes high fluid pressure in front of the eye and leads to deterioration of the optic nerve. If the IOP is not well cared and controlled, a progressive visual loss and blindness may occur. Latanoprost, a prostaglandin analogue, is an effective ocular hypotensive agent and has the longest duration of action. Latanoprost is a prodrug, once it was administrated topically, it permeates the cornea where it is enzymetically transformed to the active Latanoprost acid. This active form is released into the interior chamber and reaches the iris-ciliary body where it achieves its therapeutic effect. The mechanism of action of this active acid to reduce the IOP is to increase outflow of aqueous humor through the uveoscleral drainage pathway (uveoscleral drainage refers to the drainage of ocular aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into the anterior chamber angle). It has been reported that less than 7% of Latanoprost really reach the site of action due to its short contact time. Therefore, the application of the Latanoprost drop in the eye many times is required to attain the therapeutic effect of the drug. This could expose the eye to the excessive amount of preservatives which may cause irritation, burning, or dryness of the ocular surface. In the recent years, the pharmaceutical scientist intended to formulate a dosage form that circumvents the eye's protective barriers with no damage of tissues. The popular conventional ocular dosage forms such as eye drops (solution and suspension) have various limitations such as the short residence time, large drainage factor due to the high tear fluid turnover, pulsed dosing of drug and poor bioavailability

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