A new study explores a topical, non-invasive strategy for managing diabetic retinopathy using surface-modified curcumin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles. Formulated with the ShearJet® HL 60 high-pressure homogenizer, these nanoparticles achieved a mean size of 194.7 nm, a PDI of 0.231, and 90% entrapment efficiency.
Published in the Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, the research demonstrates that the nanoparticles:
- Delivered 70.17 ± 1.38% cumulative drug release over 10 hours in vitro, following a biphasic release pattern
- Maintained corneal tissue integrity in ex vivo histological studies, showing no visible damage compared to saline-treated tissue
- Demonstrated a VEGF-lowering effect that increased with concentration in diabetic rats—supporting their potential as a topical treatment for diabetic retinopathy