The New Frontiers of Ocular Nanomedicine

Abstract

In terms of the various types of drug delivery systems available, ocular drug delivery presents one of the greatest challenges. Although we have appropriate drugs to treat ophthalmic diseases, we have not yet succeeded in achieving a drug delivery approach with the least adverse effects. In addition to low therapeutic effects and side effects from invasive surgery or systemic exposure, nanotechnology offers great potential to overcome the limitations of common ocular delivery systems. Using nano-based technologies for ocular disease diagnosis and treatment, the present review highlights and updates recent achievements. There are still several steps left to be taken before new and useful ocular nanomedicines can be developed. Often, inherent shortcomings associated with conventional therapeutic strategies compromise treatment efficacy in clinical ophthalmology, prompting the rapid development of flexible alternatives for satisfactory diagnostics and therapeutics. Nanotechnology, material science, and nano chemistry have led to the development of a wide variety of functional nanosystems to satisfy the extensive requirements of ophthalmology. A comprehensive review of recent nanosystem developments in ophthalmology, including conventional and emerging nanomaterials, is presented in the present article, and their fundamental physicochemical properties are explored in terms of bioavailability, tissue penetration, biodistribution, and elimination in interactions with the ophthalmologic microenvironment. Furthermore, along with the development of surface engineering of nanomaterials, emerging theranostic methodologies are promoted as potential alternatives for multipurpose ocular applications, such as emerging biomimetic ophthalmology, thus provoking a holistic approach in ocular nanomedicine. By affording insight into challenges encountered by ocular nanomedicine and further highlighting the direction of future studies, this review provides an incentive for enriching ocular nanomedicine?based fundamental research and future clinical translation.