Nanotechnology in ocular drug delivery

Despite numerous scientific efforts, efficient ocular drug delivery remains a challenge for pharmaceutical scientists. Most ocular diseases are treated by topical drug application in the form of solutions, suspensions and ointment. These conventional dosage forms suffer from the problems of poor ocular bioavailability, because of various anatomical and pathophysiological barriers prevailing in the eye. This review provides an insight into the various constraints associated with ocular drug delivery, summarizes recent findings and applications of various nanoparticulate systems like microemulsions, nanosuspensions, nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes, dendrimers and cyclodextrins in the field of ocular drug delivery and also depicts how the various upcoming of nanotechnology like nanodiagnostics, nanoimaging and nanomedicine can be utilized to explore the frontiers of ocular drug delivery and therapy.