Glaucoma is the most common cause of irreversible blindness affecting more than 65 million people worldwide. It is characterized by the progressive degeneration of optic nerve and the visual field loss. The main reason behind glaucoma development is the building up of intraocular high pressure due to either the excessive production of fluid or the lack of drainage. Prostaglandins have been traditionally used to manage glaucoma conditions by enhancing the intraocular fluid outflow. Recent studies revealed Rho kinase inhibitors as a promising candidate for glaucoma treatment, not only by increasing the aqueous humour drainage but also by regenerating the damaged tissues of the back of the eye. The aim of this PhD studies is to develop new drug delivery systems to specifically release the Rho kinase inhibitors and prostaglandins to the posterior, interior or both segments of the eye. The design, development and characterization of polymeric nanoparticles and ocular inserts loaded with Rho kinase inhibitors are envisaged and the in-vitro and ex-vivo drug release and permeability studies will be conducted as well. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the developed delivery systems will be investigated using appropriate cell lines. Finally, the efficiency of these systems to lower the intraocular ocular pressure will be explored.
I am a pharmacist, graduated from Ukraine, with a wide range of experience in running pharmacies.I completed MSc in pharmaceutical science (with distinction) from the University of East London (UEL) in 2017. I joined the school of pharmacy at Kingston University as a research student in 2018. My research study focusses on ocular drug delivery system based on nanoparticles.