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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
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Limbal Approach-Subretinal Injection of Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy in Mice Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Published on: August 7, 2015
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Recent advances in gene delivery for melanocyte-associated disorders
Tanya Chhibber1, Dekker C Deacon2, Hamidreza Ghandehari3
1Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Utah Center for Nanomedicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
|October 5, 2025
Summary
Melanocyte disorders impact skin, eye, and hair color. Novel nucleic acid therapies delivered via lipid or polymer particles show promise for treating these genetic pigmentary conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Dermatology
Background:
- Melanocytes produce melanin, determining skin, eye, and hair color.
- Dysregulation of melanocyte function leads to various pigmentary disorders.
- These disorders have significant cosmetic and psychosocial impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review melanocyte-associated pigmentary disorders.
- To explore genetic and epigenetic factors driving these conditions.
- To examine nucleic acid-based therapeutic delivery systems.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on melanocyte disorders and genetic factors.
- Analysis of preclinical and clinical studies on nucleic acid therapeutics.
- Evaluation of lipid- and polymer-based delivery systems for nucleic acids.
Main Results:
- Melanocyte disorders stem from genetic and epigenetic changes.
- Gene replacement, knockdown, and miRNA therapies are promising.
- Non-viral delivery systems (lipid/polymer particles) are crucial for nucleic acid delivery.
Conclusions:
- Targeting genetic and transcriptomic changes offers therapeutic potential.
- Effective delivery of nucleic acid therapeutics to melanocytes is key.
- Lipid and polymer nanoparticles are vital for advancing these treatments.
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