Revamping the corneal permeability and antiglaucoma therapeutic potential of brinzolamide using transniosomes: optimization, in vitro and preclinical evaluation

<b>Aim: </b>This study aims to explore potential of transniosomes, a hybrid vesicular system, as ocular drug-delivery vehicle. <b>Materials &amp; methods: </b>Thin-film hydration technique was used to fabricate brinzolamide-loaded transniosomes (BRZ-TN) and optimized using Box–Behnken design, further exhaustively characterized for physicochemical evaluations, deformability, drug release, permeation and preclinical evaluations for antiglaucoma activity. <b>Results: </b>The BRZ-TN showed ultradeformability (deformability index: 5.71), exhibiting sustained drug release without irritation (irritancy score: 0) and high permeability compared with the marketed formulation or free drug suspension. The extensive <i>in vivo </i>investigations affirmed effective targeted delivery of transniosomes, with brinzolamide reducing intraocular pressure potentially. <b>Conclusion: </b>Our findings anticipated that BRZ-TN is a promising therapeutic nanocarrier for effectively delivering cargo to targeted sites by crossing corneal barriers.