Novel Polymeric Nanoparticles Intended for Ophthalmic Administration of Acetazolamide

DANIELA A. QUINTEROS ; LUANA M. FERREIRA ; SCHEILA REZENDE SCHAFFAZICK; SANTIAGO D. PALMA ; DANIEL A. ALLEMANDI ; LETÍCIA CRUZ

JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2016

0022-3549

laucoma is characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) that results in blindness if it remains untreated. Acetazolamide (AZM) is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, mainly used to reduce IOP in the treatment of glaucoma. However, the potential of topical treatment is limited, due to its low permeability across the ocular epithelium. An alternative to overcome this limitation is the incorporation of AZM in nanoparticulate systems, such as polymeric nanocapsules (NCs). In this way, the aim of this work was toprepare and characterize NC formulations containing AZM, using ethylcellulose (EC) and Eudragit® RS100 (EUD) as encapsulating polymers. The formulations showed high encapsulation efficiency. Particle size measurements showed that NCs are in the nanometric range. Comparing both groups of formulations, the NCEC proved to be smaller than those prepared with EUD. The formulations prepared with EC showed negative zeta potentials, while NCs of EUD were positively charged. For both g