Current ocular drug delivery challenges for N-acetylcarnosine: novel patented routes and modes of delivery, design for enhancement of therapeutic activity and drug delivery relationships.

This review article explores the functional activity and development aspects of N-acetylcarnosine for the visual system as revealed by the use of a variety of biophysical, physiological and therapeutic ophthalmic methods. It is designed for pharmacists and more advanced ophthalmology, optometry and pharmacology researchers who wish to gain a basic understanding of the biological effects of N-acetylcarnosine for vision and to share in the excitement of the latest developments in this field. Topics under the consideration include: ophthalmic drug delivery of N-acetylcarnosine eye drops and challenging endeavors facing the pharmaceutical scientist; clinical and functional types of activity of the developed and patented N-acetylcarnosine lubricant eye drops designed as 1% N-acetylcarnosine prodrug of L-carnosine containing a mucoadhesive cellulose-based compound combined with corneal absorption promoters in a drug delivery system; management of age-related serious or disabling eye diseases in humans with N-acetylcarnosine eye drop therapeutic platform (age-related cataracts, ocular inflammation, age-related macular degeneration , macular dystrophies, ocular manifestations of diabetes , hypertonic retinopathy, primary open angle glaucoma, vitreous lesions) ; development and molecular mechanisms of ocular therapeutic activities of carnosine derivatives in the visual system. Through this article we can perceive some helpful recent patents according to the title of the issue. The biologically significant applications of carnosine mimetics including those in ophthalmology were patented by Dr. Babizhayev and the alliance Groups (WO 2004/028536 A1; WO 94/19325; WO 95/12581; WO 2004/064866 A1).