Those suffering from dry eyes have to use eye drops as often as three times a day; a new nanoparticle-based technique could reduce that to once a week. Because our eyes naturally try to flush out any foreign substance, most of the drugs in an eye drop never actually reach the eye.
The new nanoparticles – made from biocompatible polymers – are so small that they cause no irritation. Impregnated with drugs, they stick to the eye’s mucus membranes and slowly release medication over several days before breaking down and being absorbed by the body.
The result is a much lower dose of drugs required, and far fewer eye drops.
Original research paper published in Nano research on September 11, 2014.
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