Introduction

Glaucoma is considered the second cause of blindness in the world. The development of alternatives that provide a better quality of life has been one of the most important purposes of pharmaceutical sciences. Due to their high-water content and nanometric size, nanogels are a suitable alternative for ocular administration.

Aim

To design a prototype gelatin-based nanogel using the emulsion-gelation method for the ocular administration of latanoprost, characterized by their size and size distribution, sorption capacity, loading efficiency, viscoelastic properties, isotonicity, and cytotoxicity.

Results

Nanogels with a size between 225 and 874 nm, a yield between 16-30%, a sorption capacity between 22-46%, and loading efficiency of 58% were obtained. Additionally, these systems conform to Korsmeyer-Peppa's kinetics. The rheological properties show a viscoelastic behavior with a pseudoplastic flow that is recommended to achieve a controlled residence in the conjunctiva and sclera of the eye. The nanogels obtained were not cytotoxic for fibroblasts and were isotonic.

Conclusions

The results obtained indicate that nanogels with latanoprost are an alternative in the treatment of glaucoma.