Development of Triamcinolone Acetonide-Loaded Nanoemulsion for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery

This study aims to develop nanoemulsion loading triamcinolone acetonide (TA) intended to topical ophthalmic administration. The physicochemical and drug loading properties were optimized by changing the organic to aqueous phase volume ratio, medium chain triglyceride oil (MCT) amount, soybean lecithin and Poloxamer 188 concentrations. Nanoemulsions displaying a spherical shape were obtained, with the drug loading and physicochemical properties being affected by the formulation parameters studied. All formulations were stable during 5 months of storage at 4 degrees C. In contrast, when they were stored at 25 degrees C, changes in the droplet size, polydispersion index (PDI), zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency (EE%) values were observed, culminating in the nanoemulsion creaming after the 90th storage day. As expected, nanoemulsions released TA in a fast rate. The results indicated that TA-loaded nanoemulsions properties can be optimized by varying some formulations parameters, and due its reservoir structure, these drug delivery systems may provide an adequate TA release rate on the eye surface.