Advances in the application of gelatin-based materials in anterior segment diseases

Anterior segment diseases are among the most common ocular conditions, severely impacting individuals' visual health. Additionally, due to the barrier functions of the anterior segment tissues, traditional treatment methods often suffer from low efficiency and significant side effects, presenting urgent challenges that need to be addressed. Gelatin inherently possesses excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, and when combined with its unique cell adhesion sequences and the ability to flexibly modulate mechanical and optical properties through physical and chemical modifications, it demonstrates tremendous potential in anterior segment tissue engineering and drug delivery applications. Compared to conventional surgical and eye drop therapies, gelatin-based materials can reduce the risk of complications, enhance drug bioavailability, extend drug retention time, and achieve personalized and precise treatment for various anterior segment diseases through technologies such as 3D bioprinting. However, gelatin-based materials have limitations, including low mechanical strength and thermal stability. Therefore, this paper focuses on recent research regarding the application of gelatin-based materials in anterior segment diseases, systematically summarizing their advantages in treatment, the challenges they face, and their developmental potential.