Design of Topical Moxifloxacin Mucoadhesive Nanoemulsion for the Management of Ocular Bacterial Infections

Ahmed Adel Ali Youssef; Ruchi Thakkar; Samir Senapati; Poorva H. Joshi; Narendar Dudhipala; Soumyajit Majumdar

doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics14061246

Pharmaceutics (Jun 2022)

Design of Topical Moxifloxacin Mucoadhesive Nanoemulsion for the Management of Ocular Bacterial Infections

Ahmed Adel Ali Youssef,
Ruchi Thakkar,
Samir Senapati,
Poorva H. Joshi,
Narendar Dudhipala,
Soumyajit Majumdar

Affiliations

Ahmed Adel Ali Youssef: Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Ruchi Thakkar: Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Samir Senapati: Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Poorva H. Joshi: Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Narendar Dudhipala: Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
Soumyajit Majumdar: Department of Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics14061246
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 6
p. 1246

Abstract

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Ocular bacterial infections can lead to serious visual disability without proper treatment. Moxifloxacin (MOX) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a monotherapy for ocular bacterial infections and is available commercially as an ophthalmic solution (0.5% w/v). However, precorneal retention, drainage, and low bioavailability remain the foremost challenges associated with current commercial eyedrops. With this study, we aimed to design a MOX-loaded nanoemulsion (NE; MOX-NE) with mucoadhesive agents (MOX-NEM) to sustain MOX release, as well as to overcome the potential drawbacks of the current commercial ophthalmic formulation. MOX-NE and MOX-NEM formulations were prepared by hot homogenization coupled with probe sonication technique and subsequently characterized. The lead formulations were further evaluated for in vitro release, ex vivo transcorneal permeation, sterilization, and antimicrobial efficacy studies. Commercial MOX ophthalmic solution was used as a control. The lead formulations showed the desired physicochemical properties and viscosity. All lead formulations showed sustained release profiles a period of more than 12 h. Filtered and autoclaved lead formulations were stable for one month (the last time point tested) under refrigeration and at room temperature. Ex vivo transcorneal permeation studies revealed a 2.1-fold improvement in MOX permeation of the lead MOX-NE formulation compared with Vigamox® eyedrops. However, MOX-NEM formulations showed similar flux and permeability coefficients to those of Vigamox® eyedrops. The lead formulations showed similar in vitro antibacterial activity as the commercial eyedrops and crude drug solution. Therefore, MOX-NE and MOX-NEM formulations could serve as effective delivery vehicles for MOX and could improve treatment outcomes in different ocular bacterial infections.

Published in Pharmaceutics

ISSN: 1999-4923 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Pharmacy and materia medica
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/pharmaceutics/

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