Application of Nanomaterials in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Retinal Diseases

In recent years, nanomaterials have demonstrated broad prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as small-size effects, high biocompatibility, and functional surfaces. Retinal diseases are often accompanied by complex pathological microenvironments, where conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches face challenges such as low drug delivery efficiency, risks associated with invasive procedures, and difficulties in real-time monitoring. Nanomaterials hold promise in addressing these limitations of traditional therapies, thereby improving treatment precision and efficacy. The applications of nanomaterials in diagnostics are summarized, where they enable high-resolution retinal imaging by carrying fluorescent probes or contrast agents or act as biosensors to sensitively detect disease-related biomarkers, facilitating early diagnosis and dynamic monitoring. In therapeutics, functionalized nanocarriers can precisely deliver drugs, genes, or antioxidant molecules to retinal target cells, significantly enhancing therapeutic outcomes while reducing systemic toxicity. Additionally, nanofiber materials possess unique properties that make them particularly suitable for retinal regeneration in tissue engineering. By loading neurotrophic factors into nanofiber scaffolds, their regenerative effects can be amplified, promoting the repair of retinal neurons. Despite their immense potential, clinical translation of nanomaterials still requires addressing challenges such as long-term biosafety, scalable manufacturing processes, and optimization of targeting efficiency.