Ion – Activated In Situ Gelling System of Levofloxacin for Sustained Ophthalmic Delivery

Ophthalmic drug delivery is one of the most interesting and challenging endeavours facing the pharmaceutical scientist. The anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the eye render this organ highly impervious to foreign substances. Various ophthalmic vehicles, such as inserts, ointments, suspensions and aqueous gels, have been developed to lengthen the residence times of instilled dose and enhance ophthalmic bioavailability1. The objective of the present work was to develop an ion activated in situ gelling system of Levofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone derivative used in external infections of the eye. Gellan, alone, was investigated as vehicle for the formulation of eye drops of Levofloxacin (0.5%), which would undergo gelation when instilled into cul-de-sac of the eye and provide sustained release during treatment of ocular infections. The developed formulations were therapeutically efficacious and provide sustained release of the drug during over a 8-hrs period in vitro2.