Topical Application of RNAi Therapy Using Surface-Modified Liposomes for Treating Retinal-Vein Occlusion

Retinal diseases can result in blindness and visual impairment. They represent a significant medical burden and adversely affect life expectancy. Recently, antibody- and nucleic acid-based pharmaceuticals have increasingly been used to treat retinal diseases, with improvement or cure as the goal; however, these drugs are currently only administered by intravitreal injection. In this study, we present a novel approach to treating retinal diseases using eye drops that contain PnkRNA, a single-stranded RNA nucleic acid. PnkRNA-loaded liposomes were shown to effectively deliver retinal drugs and significantly inhibit retinal thickening in a mouse retinal-vein occlusion model. Cationic modification of the liposome surface enhanced the delivery of nucleic acids and therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, to reduce the frequency of eye-drop administration, liposomes were incorporated into the thermoresponsive gels. This formulation provided sustained retinal delivery and exhibited superior therapeutic efficacy compared with liposomal eye drops. This nucleic acid retinal delivery technology represents a significant advancement in drug-delivery technology, offering a safe and simple treatment for retinal diseases.