The New Frontiers of Ocular Nanomedicine View PDF

Koyi Amulya
Medicine, Alluri Sita Ramaraju Academy Of Medical Sciences, India

Published on: 2024-08-21

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.

Keywords

Nanomedicine, Ophthalmology, Ocular

Introduction

Worldwide, nearly 260 million people are suffering from various ocular disorders that could impair vision and eventually lead to blindness, according to investigations conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) [1]. Over the past decade, numerous preclinical and clinical studies have been conducted on therapeutics for ophthalmic disorders such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, and uveitis. The advancement of ophthalmic pathological mechanisms and the management of eye diseases has been a significant accomplishment in the past few decades. Although these diseases pose many challenges because of the unique anatomical and physiological characteristics of the eye. It is rare for common therapeutic approaches to fully restore vision loss or to diagnose severe ophthalmic disorders in their early stages [2]. Therefore, eye diseases have received much attention due to improved diagnostic and therapeutic methods. A current hot topic and high potential technology, nanotechnology has a significant impact on engineering, chemistry, medicine, and biology. Recent years have seen considerable research attention devoted to this technology. Materials with nanometer-sized properties are studied in nanoscience [3]. At least one dimension of a nanomaterial must be measured in nanometers for it to be considered nanotechnology. Mechanically, electrically, optically, magnetically, and chemically, certain nanoscale materials exhibit superior characteristics. Drugs and drug delivery systems can be improved by utilizing these properties [4]. Likewise, nanotechnology has made rapid progress in diagnosing and treating ocular disorders. Dexamethasone, for example, is widely used as a biopharmaceutical that inhibits ocular inflammation and bacterial infections. As a result of the presence of ocular barriers, intrinsic deficiencies in the delivery of drugs by eye drops or intravitreal administration, such as poor permeation, insufficient distribution, and insufficient bioavailability, limit their clinical performance. Furthermore, recombinant proteins and peptides, especially anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents (e.g., ranibizumab and aflibercept), minimize drugdrug interactions and are frequently recommended to treat neovascular fundus diseases [5]. Despite their hydrophilicity and high molecular weight, these agents cannot penetrate complex tissue barriers and cell membranes, requiring intravitreal administration. Furthermore, their rapid physical and chemical degradation raises significant challenges in long-term therapeutic effectiveness, necessitating repeated intravitreal interventions that can lead to intraocular bleeding, infection, and discomfort, which leads to poor patient compliance [6]. As a result, vision recovery may not be satisfactory when available therapeutic strategies are unable to image and diagnose ocular diseases early and accurately monitor their results post-administration. The need to explore safer and more efficient alternatives to combat eye-related diseases is urgent [7]