ABSTRACT
The human sclera accounts for 95％ of the surface of the eyeball,providing ample contact area which is suitable for targeted trans-scleral ocular drug delivery.Currently there are several tans-scleral sustained-release strategies,including intra-scleral delivery,episcleral delivery,as well as tans-scleral iontophoresis.Different devices and methods have their own advantages and disadvantages,for example,intrascleral delivery is somehow invasive,and episcleral delivery device needs to be made thin to prevent erosion of conjunctiva,iontophoresis needs to be frequently repeated as of its short-term effect.With the development of bio-material engineering technology,episcleral microfilm could become an ideal drug delivery route for posterior segment ocular diseases.
ABSTRACT
The suprachoroidal space (SCS) is the potential space between the sclera and choroid.Drugs delivered through SCS can bypass the sclera,avoiding clearance by conjunctival and scleral blood vessels and lymphatic circulation,so that more drugs can reach the disease tissues such as choroid and retina.SCS drug delivery does not disrupt the ocular integrity,is safer than the intravitreal drug injection and more effective than trans-scleral drug delivery.In addition,SCS delivery only needs a very small volume of drug,which makes it possible to be carried out in multiple parts of the sclera,and the specific disease area can be more precisely targeted.SCS drug delivery is suitable for the treatment of choroidal and retinal diseases.However,currently SCS drug delivery is still a novel field and many aspects need to be more in-depth studied,including its safety,delivery methods,drug formulation and effectiveness.