The bioadhesive-thermoresponsive ophthalmic gel loaded solid dispersion of triamcinolone acetonide for improvement of ocular inflammation therapy

Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) is a corticosteroid that has been widely used to treat ocular inflammation. However, due to the physicochemical properties of TA, this drug has low solubility and permeability. This study aims to improve the solubility of TA and promote better ocular absorption through solid dispersion (SD) formulation with the solvent evaporation method incorporated into in situ gel. The SD-TA was characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM to confirm physicochemical modifications that support enhanced solubility. The most optimal SD-TA will then be combined into an in situ gel base with a composition of poloxamer, HPMC, and HPC. The resulting in situ gel exhibited desirable physical properties, remained isotonic with lacrimal fluid, and showed no signs of toxicity. Moreover, the system achieved prolonged ocular retention, with 3.15 ± 0.15 mg of TA retained on the ocular membrane after 24 h, indicating strong potential for sustained local therapeutic effect. In conclusion, this study successfully developed a new TA delivery approach that enhances solubility, prolongs ocular residence time, and improves local anti-inflammatory efficacy. Further in vivo studies and long-term stability assessments are recommended to support clinical translation.