Comparative Study of Dexamethasone-Loaded Thermoresponsive In Situ Gels and Polymeric Micelles for Ocular Drug Delivery

Szalai, Boglárka; Jójárt-Laczkovich, Orsolya; Kovács, Anita; Berkó, Szilvia; Sipos, Bence; Katona, Gábor; Budai-Szűcs, Mária

doi:10.3390/ijms26178414

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Comparative Study of Dexamethasone-Loaded Thermoresponsive In Situ Gels and Polymeric Micelles for Ocular Drug Delivery

by

Boglárka Szalai

,

Orsolya Jójárt-Laczkovich

,

Anita Kovács

,

Szilvia Berkó

,

Bence Sipos

,

Gábor Katona

and

Mária Budai-Szűcs

^*

Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology and Regulatory Affairs, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Szeged, Eötvös Street 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178414

Submission received: 28 July 2025 / Revised: 25 August 2025 / Accepted: 28 August 2025 / Published: 29 August 2025

(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry)

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Abstract

Effective ocular drug delivery is still a challenge for pharmaceutical technologists due to the complex elimination mechanisms of the eye. In situ gels and polymeric micelles are among the pharmaceutical technologies that may enable us to overcome these challenges. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the ocular applicability of in situ gels and polymeric micelles, as well as their combinations, containing a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, dexamethasone. The developed formulations were compared on the basis of their physicochemical characteristics, rheological behavior, mucoadhesion, in vitro drug release profile, and in vitro and ex vivo permeability. The developed formulations exhibited moderate stability according to the zeta potential measurements; however, they demonstrated appropriate mucoadhesion and sustained drug release. Furthermore, the results of the permeability studies suggest that combining thermoresponsive in situ gels and polymeric micelles represents a promising strategy for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of ocular drug delivery.

Keywords: corneal PAMPA; ex vivo; in situ gel; ocular drug delivery; permeation; poloxamer; polymeric micelle

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MDPI and ACS Style

Szalai, B.; Jójárt-Laczkovich, O.; Kovács, A.; Berkó, S.; Sipos, B.; Katona, G.; Budai-Szűcs, M. Comparative Study of Dexamethasone-Loaded Thermoresponsive In Situ Gels and Polymeric Micelles for Ocular Drug Delivery. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 8414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178414

AMA Style

Szalai B, Jójárt-Laczkovich O, Kovács A, Berkó S, Sipos B, Katona G, Budai-Szűcs M. Comparative Study of Dexamethasone-Loaded Thermoresponsive In Situ Gels and Polymeric Micelles for Ocular Drug Delivery. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(17):8414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178414

Chicago/Turabian Style

Szalai, Boglárka, Orsolya Jójárt-Laczkovich, Anita Kovács, Szilvia Berkó, Bence Sipos, Gábor Katona, and Mária Budai-Szűcs. 2025. "Comparative Study of Dexamethasone-Loaded Thermoresponsive In Situ Gels and Polymeric Micelles for Ocular Drug Delivery" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 17: 8414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178414

APA Style

Szalai, B., Jójárt-Laczkovich, O., Kovács, A., Berkó, S., Sipos, B., Katona, G., & Budai-Szűcs, M. (2025). Comparative Study of Dexamethasone-Loaded Thermoresponsive In Situ Gels and Polymeric Micelles for Ocular Drug Delivery. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(17), 8414. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178414

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Comparative Study of Dexamethasone-Loaded Thermoresponsive In Situ Gels and Polymeric Micelles for Ocular Drug Delivery

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