Spanlastics nanovesicular ocular insert as a novel ocular delivery of travoprost: optimization using Box–Behnken design and <i>in vivo</i> evaluation
Marwa Hassan Shukr, Soha Ismail, Ghada Ghanem El-Hossary, Amany H. M. Elshazly
Abstract
Currently, travoprost is a synthetic prostaglandin F2α analogue used in the treatment of glaucoma, it is delivered by eye drop solution. Due to its very low bioavailability and patient non-compliance, the objective of the current study was to enhance its bioavailability, and prolong its release Spanlastic nano-vesicles gels were designed and optimized using Box-Behnken design. The optimized spanlastic nano-vesicles gel exhibited the lowest particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI) and the highest zeta potential (ZP), encapsulation efficiency (EE) and mucoadhesive strength was fabricated into spanlastic nano-vesicles ocular insert by solvent casting. In vivo studies showed enhanced bioavailability of travoprost spanlastic nano-vesicles gel and ocular insert compared to the marketed eye drops (travoswix®), as proven by their higher Cmax and AUC0-∞, in addition to being nonirritant to ocular surfaces. However, spanlastic nano-vesicles ocular insert showed more prolonged effect than spanlastic nano-vesicles gel. According to our study, it can be suggested that travoprost spanlastic nano-vesicles ocular insert is a novel ocular delivery system for glaucoma treatment