advertisement
A variety of ocular drug delivery systems, including controlled release of the drug, drug targeting, and penetration enhancement of the drug, have been investigated. Biodegradable polymers have been widely used as the drug carrier for controlled-release systems. Biodegradable polymers release the drug as they themselves degrade, and are finally absorbed within the body. Several ocular drug delivery systems using different kinds of biodegradable polymers have been studied. In this article, the authors describe the fundamental mechanisms of drug delivery systems, polymer erosion and drug release, and then review those systems using the most popular biodegradable polymers, poly(lactic acid) and poly(lactic-glycolic acid).
Dr H. Kimura, Department of Ophthalmology, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, Japan
11.16 Vehicles, delivery systems, pharmacokinetics, formulation (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)