Abstract

Ocular inflammation is a complex pathology with limited treatment options. While traditional therapies have side effects, novel approaches, such as natural compounds like Apigenin (APG) and Melatonin (MEL) offer promising solutions. APG and MEL, in combination with nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), may provide a synergistic effect in treating ocular inflammation, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing adverse effects. NLC could provide chemical protection of these compounds, while offering a sustained release into the ocular surface. Optimized NLC exhibited suitable physicochemical parameters, physical stability, sustained release of APG and MEL, and were biocompatible in vitro with a corneal cell line, and in ovo by using hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane test. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the NLC' ability to attenuate inflammation by reducing interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) cytokine levels and by decreasing inflammation in a rabbit model. These findings suggest that the co-encapsulation of APG and MEL into NLC could represent a promising strategy for managing ocular inflammatory conditions.