Development and optimization of besifloxacin hydrochloride loaded liposomal gel prepared by thin film hydration method using 32 full factorial design

Contact Lenses as Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems: A Review

“…To date, the soaking method is the common strategy employed to load active compounds mainly into hydrogel-based contact lenses [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ], and to a lesser extent, into polymeric films [ 38 , 39 ]. The soaking method consists in immersing the lens/support in a solution/suspension/emulsion containing the drug to be loaded [ 74 ].…”

“…Until now, drug-loaded films were often incorporated as composite systems into hydrogel contact lenses [ 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Although proposed in a limited number of papers [ 38 , 39 , 40 ], the direct use/wear of polymeric thin and flexible films loaded with ophthalmic drugs as novel therapeutic contact lenses can be very interesting, i.e., assuring comfort and easy handling for the patient consumer.…”

“…The incorporation of various drug-loaded structures ( Figure 4 ) into the lens network has been extensively explored as a valid alternative to soaking method, in order to prolong the release of ophthalmic drugs, including: drug-loaded nanoparticles [ 4 , 19 , 21 , 25 , 37 , 58 ]; drug-loaded liposomes [ 39 , 55 , 56 ]; drug-loaded micelles [ 23 , 54 , 82 ]; drug-loaded implants [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 59 ], generally in the form of rings. …”

“…Therefore, modifications of the polymeric network constituting the contact lens or the use of different polymeric supports are currently being studied [ 9 ]. In this scenario, the use of polymeric thin films is included, which have recently been proposed as therapeutic contact lenses after drug impregnation [ 38 , 39 , 40 ] or as a drug-loaded platform embedded in hydrogel-based lenses ( Figure 3 ) [ 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. In the latter case, ultraviolet light polymerization is generally employed to coat both sides of the drug-loaded film with the gelling polymers [ 27 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“…From the literature [ 38 , 39 , 40 ], it is evident that therapeutic contact lenses based on thin films are still not very widespread. However, it is desirable to investigate their use as ocular drug delivery systems, as they ensure patient comfort due to the flexibility, reduced thickness and non-invasive encumbrance of the films [ 41 ].…”