Nanoscale activated carbons for intrastromal controlled drug release

Introduction: Blindness caused by HSV-1 eye infections is a significant public health challenge, necessitating improved topical therapies with enhanced antiviral efficacy, bioavailability, and reduced toxicity. Our previous work demonstrated the superior efficacy of drug-encapsulated carbon (DECON) loaded with the antiviral drug acyclovir (ACV) compared to ACV alone, with the added benefit of reduced dosage frequency. To build on these findings, we developed nanoscale DECON (nDECON), designed to enhance cell permeability while maintaining the nontoxic, cost-effective, and nonimmunogenic properties of DECON