Hyaluronic acid-modified PLGA nanoparticles for enhanced ocular drug delivery.

AIM: To develop hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (HA-PLGA NPs) for enhanced triamcinolone acetonide (TA) ocular delivery.

METHODS

HA-PLGA NPs were prepared via solvent evaporation. Physicochemical properties, in vitro corneal permeation, and in vivo pharmacokinetics in rabbit aqueous humour were evaluated.

RESULTS

HA modification significantly increased encapsulation efficiency from 22.26 ± 0.8% to 62.87 ± 3.9% (w/w) and drug loading from 2.21 ± 0.08% to 6.09 ± 0.38% (w/w). Apparent permeability coefficient increased from 2.33 ± 0.14 to 9.28 ± 0.58 (×10-6cm·s-1). In vivo, HA-PLGA NPs achieved a 7.2-fold higher area under the curve (AUC0→360) (8.06 μg·mL-1·min) compared to unmodified nanoparticles.

CONCLUSIONS

HA-PLGA NPs provide a high-efficiency, non-invasive platform for treating posterior segment diseases by overcoming ocular barriers through bioadhesion.