الفهرس Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 204 |  |  |
| | | from | 204 | | |
Abstract
O/w submicron, mini- or nano-emulsions are synonyms that refer to surfactant-stabilized oil droplets, with mean diameter under 1µm, that are dispersed within an external aqueous phase.
Based on the emulsifier combinations used in the formation of submicron emulsion (SE) droplets, the o/w lipid emulsions can easily be classified into two types: one having emulsifiers with the capacity to produce a negative charge at the o/w interface termed anionic and another possessing emulsifiers able to provide a positive charge at the o/w interface called cationic.
Of the various approaches used for SE formulation, the de novo emulsion preparation approach was adopted. This is the generally accepted and standard method used to prepare lipophilic drug-loaded lipid emulsions for ocular use. Prepared emulsions were subsequently subjected to autoclave sterilization to achieve sterility. This was also considered as the accelerated stability test most relevant to the stress conditions that emulsions may encounter during sterilization, transportation, and aging.
To achieve effective ophthalmic therapy, an adequate amount of the drug must be delivered and maintained at its site of action within the eye. Most ocularly instilled drugs are extremely limited in their ability to penetrate the lipophilic corneal tissues as a result of anatomical and physico-chemical barriers. SEs have produced promising results as ocular drug delivery systems by providing an altered ocular pharmacokinetics profile of the incorporated lipophilic drug and also due to their permeability characteristics. Prednisolone acetate (PA) is the most effective agent used for suppression of corneal inflammation. Therefore, in this thesis, attempts have been made to develop anionic and cationic prednisolone acetate ophthalmic submicron emulsion formulations which can be the sterilized by autoclaving without being damaged. In addition, all PA emulsions were subjected to physical stability testing to evaluate the emulsion properties during storage. Finally, the in-vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy of the chosen formulae was carried out in a rat model of Endotoxin-Induced Uveitis (EIU).