Life Sciences & Biotechnology
Title : | Thermoresponsive in-situ gel bearing pregabalin loaded nanoparticles for management of Glaucoma |
Area of research : | Life Sciences & Biotechnology |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Arvind Gulbake, National Institute Of Pharmaceutical Education And Research (NIPER-G), Karnataka |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Contact info : | arvind.gulbake@gmail.com |
Details
Executive Summary : | Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) affects 57.5 million people globally, with a 2.2% global frequency. The overexpressed Cacna2D1 gene is responsible for POAG, and several IOP-lowering drops struggle with patient compliance due to short half-life and minimal cornea residence time. Pregabalin (PRG) has been reported to bind and alleviate the overexpressed expression of CACNA2D1 protein, which increases intraocular pressure in glaucoma. PRG has good binding affinities for the targeted receptors CACNA2D1 and hCA. Conventional drug delivery systems have limited IOP reduction due to ocular physiological barriers such as lacrimation, tear turnover, tear dilution, and nasolacrimal drainage. To address these issues, an ideal delivery system is needed. A thermoresponsive in-situ gel bearing pregabalin loaded albumin nanoparticles for topical eye drops could improve the drug's precorneal retention time and increase bioavailability. The sol-to-gel conversion of the thermoresponsive polymer at precorneal surface temperature and electrostatic interaction of albumin nanoparticles with negatively charged sialic acid in mucin account for high retention time. Preliminary results suggest that the thermoresponsive in-situ gel bearing PRG-loaded Alb nanoparticles could sustain drug release up to 24 hours. To enhance stability and drug loading, an emulsion solvent evaporation method using a high-pressure homogenizer will be optimized using the DOE approach. Ex vivo and in vivo studies are crucial for determining the therapeutic activity of the developed formulation. |
Total Budget (INR): | 29,37,264 |
Organizations involved