Tear-Driven Phase Transition Microemulsion for Ocular Delivery of Dexamethasone in the Effective Treatment of Uveitis

The goal of this study was to develop dexamethasone-loaded tear-driven phase transition microemulsions (PTMEs) to effectively treat uveitis. PTMEs were prepared using the oil titration method. Physicochemical parameters, <i>in vitro</i> release, and ocular irritation studies were performed. The <i>in vivo</i> study, total cell count, and total protein content were estimated on the rabbit eye model. The study revealed that developed PTMEs had nanoglobule sizes, acceptable physicochemical properties, and prolonged drug release. Ex-vivo and in-vivo studies concluded that higher permeability and improved anti-inflammatory properties were observed for PTMEs compared to marketed formulation. The prepared PTMEs showed a sustained release pattern and enhanced therapeutic effectiveness, making them a promising alternative to conventional eye drops for treating uveitis.

本研究旨在制备载地塞米松的泪液驱动相变微乳（PTMEs），用于葡萄膜炎的有效治疗。采用油滴定法制备PTMEs，对其理化参数、体外（in vitro）释药特性及眼部刺激性进行了系统考察。在兔眼模型上开展体内（in vivo）研究，测定了总细胞计数与总蛋白含量。研究结果显示，所制备的PTMEs具备纳米级球粒尺寸、良好的理化性质，且药物释放具有缓释特性。离体与体内研究均表明，相较于市售制剂，该PTMEs具有更高的药物透过性与更优异的抗炎性能。所制备的PTMEs呈现稳定的缓释模式且治疗效果显著提升，有望成为传统滴眼液治疗葡萄膜炎的极具潜力的替代方案。