Prolonged Release Niosomes For Ocular Delivery of Loteprednol: Ocular Distribution Assessment on Dry Eye Disease Induced Rabbit Model.

Loteprednol etabonate (LE) is a topical corticosteroid for the symptomatic management of ocular conditions, encompassing both allergic and infectious etiologies. Owing to the dynamic and static barriers of the eye, LE exhibits significantly low bioavailability, necessitating an increase in the frequency of drug administration. The objective of this study is to overcome the limitations by developing niosomal systems loaded with LE. Design of Experiments (DoE) approach was used for the development of optimal niosome formulation. The optimal formulation was characterized using DLS, FT-IR, and DSC analysis. In vitro and ex vivo release studies were performed to demonstrate drug release patterns. After that HET-CAM evaluation was conducted to determine safety profile. Then, in vivo studies were carried out to determine therapeutic activity of niosomes. Zeta potential (ZP), particle size, polydispersity index (PI), and encapsulation efficacy (EE) were -33.8 mV, 89.22 nm, 0.192, and 89.6%, respectively. Medicated niosomes had a broad distribution within rabbit eye tissues and was absorbed by the aqueous humor of the bovine eye for up to 6 h after treatment. Cumulative permeated drug in the bovine eye and rabbit eye were recorded 52.45% and 54.8%, respectively. No irritation or hemorrhagic situation was observed according to the results of HET-CAM study. Thus, novel LE-loaded niosomal formulations could be considered as a promising treatment option for the dry-eye-disease (DED) due to enhanced bioavailability and decreased side effects.