Ocular bioerodible minitablets as strategy for the management of microbial keratitis.

PURPOSE: Evaluation in volunteers of ciprofloxacin-containing ocular gelling minitablets with prolonged release properties.

METHODS

The irritation potential of ciprofloxacin-containing bioadhesive powder mixtures, used to prepare ocular bioerodible minitablets, was evaluated with a slug mucosal-irritation test. The tear pharmacokinetic profiles of ciprofloxacin were determined in six healthy volunteers after topical administration of a minitablet and a single eye drop in the lower fornix. The drug concentrations in the tear samples collected were measured by using a validated HPLC METHOD: Each volunteer was asked to give an evaluation of the preparations applied by answering a standard questionnaire.

RESULTS

The results of the mucosal-irritation test demonstrated the nonirritating properties of the bioadhesive powder mixtures. The ocular minitablet, applied in the fornix was in general well tolerated by the healthy volunteers. The mean tear concentration of ciprofloxacin was 33.0, 135.2, and 33.7 microg/g at 30, 300, and 480 minutes after application of the minitablet. Mean tear levels of 84.7, 45.6, and 8.4 microg/g were obtained at 5, 30, and 60 minutes after application of an eye drop.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to their prolonged drug release properties, the ocular minitablets containing ciprofloxacin can be considered as a promising drug delivery system to be used in the treatment of ulcerative bacterial keratitis.