Enhanced ophthalmic bioavailability and stability of atropine sulfate via sustained release particles using polystyrene sulfonate resin

Atropine sulfate (ATS) eye drops at low concentrations constitute a limited selection for myopia treatment, with challenges such as low ophthalmic bioavailability and inadequate stability. This study proposes a novel strategy by synthesizing ophthalmic sodium polystyrene sulfonate resin (SPSR) characterized by a spherical shape and uniform size for cationic exchange with ATS. The formulation of ATS@SPSR suspension eye drops incorporates xanthan gum and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as suspending agents. In vitro studies demonstrated that ATS@SPSR suspension eye drops exhibited sustained release characteristics, and tropic acid, its degradation product, remained undetected for 30 days at 40℃. The ATS levels in the tear fluids and aqueous humor of New Zealand rabbits indicated a significant increase in mean residence time (MRT) and area under the drug concentration–time curve (AUC0-12h) for ATS@SPSR suspension eye drops compared to conventional ATS eye drops. Moreover, safety assessment confirmed the non-irritating nature of ATS@SPSR suspension eye drops in rabbit eyes. In conclusion, the cation-responsive sustained-release ATS@SPSR suspension eye drops enhanced the bioavailability and stability of ATS, offering a promising avenue for myopia treatment.