Carissa Carandas-Loaded Leciplex: Development and Optimization of a Mucoadhesive Ocular Nanovesicular System for Sustained Drug Delivery and Management of Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Effective ocular drug delivery remains challenging because of the complex anatomical and physiological barriers of the eye; however, nanotechnology-based approaches offer promising strategies to overcome these limitations and enhance targeted drug delivery. In this study, a simple one-step fabrication technique was employed to develop Carissa carandas-loaded leciplex, which were then optimized using a 32 Full Factorial Design. The Carissa Carandas-LP demonstrated a uniform size distribution, impressive entrapment efficiency of 96.015 ± 1.45%, and a zeta potential of 22.24 ± 1.10 mV.  In addition, ex vivo corneal permeation showed consistent and sustained drug permeation, while in vitro mucoadhesive experiments with different mucin concentrations demonstrated strong electrostatic bonding, confirming the formulation's mucoadhesive qualities. Moreover, histological studies ensured that the formulation is non-toxic and non-irritating, and the Draize test confirmed its significant tolerance; the in vivo pharmacodynamic study on a zebrafish model revealed that treatment with Carissa Carandas-LP led to a significant and lasting decrease in diabetic retinopathy. Overall, Carissa carandas-LP represents a promising and versatile drug delivery system with potential for the management of diabetic retinopathy.