The potential of lipid emulsion for ocular delivery of lipophilic drugs

For nearly a decade, oil-in-water lipid emulsions containing either anionic or cationic droplets have been recognized as an interesting and promising ocular topical delivery vehicle for lipophilic drugs. The aim of this review is to present the potential of lipid emulsions for ocular delivery of lipophilic drugs. The review covers an update on the state of the art of incorporating the lipophilic drugs, a brief description concerning the components and the classification of. lipid emulsions. The ocular fate following topical instillation, safety evaluation experiments and the applications of lipid emulsions are thoroughly discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.