Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :

Design and development of a non-invasive controlled release sol-gel based- dual drug delivery system for simultaneous alleviation of intraocular pressure and retinal ganglionic cells degeneration in glaucoma

Area of research :

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Dadi A srinivasarao, National Institute Of Pharmaceutical Education And Research (NIPER) Hyderabad, Telangana

Timeline Start Year :

2024

Timeline End Year :

2026

Contact info :

Equipments :

Details

Executive Summary :

Glaucoma is a complex pathological condition characterized by increased resistance to aqueous humor drainage, leading to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration. It is the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally and in India. Current treatment strategies include lifelong administration of eye drops containing prostaglandins, β-blockers, or surgical methods like trabeculectomy. However, these methods do not improve the condition of RGC degeneration. The chronic nature of glaucoma demands frequent drug administrations, leading to poor patient compliance and treatment failure. sustained-release ocular implants or microparticles have been explored to prolong drug release in ocular tissues, but these require invasive surgical procedures or injections that can lead to severe ocular complications. A non-invasive (topical) route of administration holds an advantage over other routes. The complex anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye cause hindrance to drug permeation and retention, resulting in low bioavailability and sub-therapeutic levels of topically administered drugs. To develop a non-invasive sustained release dual drug delivery system, a multi-stimuli responsive, sustained release sol-gel based system is proposed. The system, in the liquid state at 25ᵒC, can transform into a gel upon topical eye drop administration. If successful, this system can be used as a platform technology for the topical administration of multiple therapeutic agents in the treatment of various ocular diseases, and the proposed combinatorial therapy can be translated to the clinic.

Total Budget (INR):

29,40,360

Organizations involved