Effect of water-in-oil microemulsions and lamellar liquid crystalline systems on the precorneal tear film of albino New Zealand rabbits

Original Research

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Authors: Judy Chan, Gamal M El Maghraby, Jennifer P Craig, Raid G Alany

Published Date March 2008 Volume 2008:2(1) Pages 129 - 137

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S2032

Judy Chan¹, Gamal M El Maghraby^1,2, Jennifer P Craig³, Raid G Alany¹

¹Drug Delivery Research Unit (2DRU), School of Pharmacy, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; ²Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; ³Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of phase transition water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions (ME) and liquid crystalline systems (LC) on the precorneal tear film (PCTF). The study used six albino NZ rabbits and monitored the integrity and stability of the PCTF before and after instillation of test formulations. The effects were evaluated by assessment of the PCTF lipid layer using interferometry, tear evaporation rate measurements, and indirect estimation of tear volume. Ocular application of test formulations changed the appearance of the PCTF lipid layer, indicating lipid layer disruption. The recovery time was longer in case of ME compared with an aqueous solution (SOL). The tear evaporation rate was increased after application of both ME and LC systems compared with the SOL, with the LC system showing the greatest effect. Tear volume measurement results revealed minimal changes associated with the instillation of both ME systems. Whilst phase transition w/o ME systems can interact with the PCTF lipid layer in albino New Zealand rabbits, their effect on the volume of resident tears was found to be minimal.

Keywords: ocular microemulsion; tear film; dry eye