Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
182,469 studies31 sourcesUpdated 49 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDAsian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Natural polysaccharide microspheres for ocular drug delivery: Sources, design strategies, and therapeutic applications

  • Shixiang Liu1
  • Peng Sun1
  • Xianjie Liu1
  • Jun Tan1
  • Yajun Gong2
  • Jingxuan Chen1
  • Qiuxin Xu1
  • Yiheng Huang1
  • Fuxin Yang1
  • Xu Wang3
  • Cong Li4
  • Chenjin Jin2
3 more authors
  • Songtao Dong5
  • Xiaoli Ma1
  • Tu Lu1
5 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, China Medical University Eye Center, Shenyang 110001, China
  2. 2State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
  3. 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China
  4. 4Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX 77030, USA
  5. 5Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3M2, Canada
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Ocular drug delivery is constrained by anatomical barriers, continuous clearance, and compartment-specific homeostasis, which together reduce bioavailability and shorten exposure at target tissues. This review focuses on natural polysaccharide microspheres (NPMs), defined as micron-scale particles whose primary matrix or essential crosslinking framework is a natural polysaccharide or its derivative. Rather than treating polysaccharides as a uniform class, we examine how molecular weight, charge, viscosity, and crosslinking behavior affect fabrication, particle properties, ocular retention, and release. We also compare their route-specific uses and limitations with those of other sustained-release systems. Furthermore, the biological functions of polysaccharide excipients and the concept of “drug-excipient integration” are critically analyzed. Finally, this review evaluates the biosafety, manufacturing processes (including sterilization and quality control), regulatory considerations, patent landscape, clinical evidence, and translational requirements of NPMs, providing guidance for the development of next-generation safe and effective ocular drug delivery platforms.

Related

  1. Hepatoprotective natural polyphenol extracts: molecular mechanisms, stabilization-delivery strategies, and translational bottlenecks for functional food applications
    Xiaoxiao Yao, Ruining Zhang, Yi Wang +1
    Frontiers in ImmunologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textImmunologyGeneral medicineCrossrefDOAJ
  2. Hydrogel-based delivery of extracellular vesicles for skin wound healing: design strategies, therapeutic mechanisms, and translational perspectives
    Yuqiu Jin, Jun Lu, Jingping Wu +3
    Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnologyPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCPMC
  3. Microneedles for Chronic Refractory Wounds: A Review of Dynamic Regulation Strategies and Therapeutic Applications.
    Quanying Liu, Yang Xu, Wenfeng Li +1
    International journal of molecular sciencesPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  4. How PLGA Microspheres are Emerging as a Key Drug Delivery System
    Sai Qian, Lan Ma, Chenlu Liu +3
    International Journal of NanomedicinePeer-reviewedCC BY-NCFull text5 citedPharmacology & toxicologyOpenAlex
  5. Clinical Applications of Flavonoids in Pregnancy: Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Gestational Disorders—An Update
    Aleksandra Kozłowska
    NutrientsPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Obstetrics, gynaecology & paediatricsCrossref

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{liu2026natural,
  title = {{Natural polysaccharide microspheres for ocular drug delivery: Sources, design strategies, and therapeutic applications}},
  author = {Shixiang Liu and Peng Sun and Xianjie Liu and Jun Tan and Yajun Gong and Jingxuan Chen and Qiuxin Xu and Yiheng Huang and Fuxin Yang and Xu Wang and Cong Li and Chenjin Jin and Songtao Dong and Xiaoli Ma and Tu Lu},
  journal = {Asian journal of pharmaceutical sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1016/j.ajps.2026.101190},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13722027},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Natural polysaccharide microspheres for ocular drug delivery: Sources, design strategies, and therapeutic applications
AU  - Shixiang Liu
AU  - Peng Sun
AU  - Xianjie Liu
AU  - Jun Tan
AU  - Yajun Gong
AU  - Jingxuan Chen
AU  - Qiuxin Xu
AU  - Yiheng Huang
AU  - Fuxin Yang
AU  - Xu Wang
AU  - Cong Li
AU  - Chenjin Jin
AU  - Songtao Dong
AU  - Xiaoli Ma
AU  - Tu Lu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/01
JO  - Asian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
DO  - 10.1016/j.ajps.2026.101190
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13722027
AB  - Ocular drug delivery is constrained by anatomical barriers, continuous clearance, and compartment-specific homeostasis, which together reduce bioavailability and shorten exposure at target tissues. This review focuses on natural polysaccharide microspheres (NPMs), defined as micron-scale particles whose primary matrix or essential crosslinking framework is a natural polysaccharide or its derivative. Rather than treating polysaccharides as a uniform class, we examine how molecular weight, charge, viscosity, and crosslinking behavior affect fabrication, particle properties, ocular retention, and release. We also compare their route-specific uses and limitations with those of other sustained-release systems. Furthermore, the biological functions of polysaccharide excipients and the concept of “drug-excipient integration” are critically analyzed. Finally, this review evaluates the biosafety, manufacturing processes (including sterilization and quality control), regulatory considerations, patent landscape, clinical evidence, and translational requirements of NPMs, providing guidance for the development of next-generation safe and effective ocular drug delivery platforms.
SN  - 1818-0876
SN  - 2221-285X
ER  -