ABSTRACT
Topical administration is the most common method to deliver ocular therapeutics. However, the eye is highly resistant to foreign substances and its clearance mechanisms effectively remove drug, significantly limiting the efficiency of common topical formulations. In the search for improved ocular bioavailability, particle based delivery systems have arisen as a promising strategy to overcome these limitations while retaining the patient friendly aspects of topical formulations. Nanoparticles can be formed via the self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules into nano-sized aggregates consisting of hydrophilic networks crosslinked with hydrophobic domains and referred to as “nanogels”. The work presented in this thesis focuses on the design, synthesis and optimization of novel nano gels ultimately intended to improve the efficiency of the delivery of therapeutics to the eye. Methylcellulose, a hydrophilic, non-toxic and biodegradable natural biomaterial, has been extensively investigated for biomedical applications, including ocular applications, and was therefore the polymer of choice for the work.
Ph.D. Thesis – M. Jamard – McMaster University – School of Biomedical Engineering