Nanotechnology-Based Delivery Systems and Retinal Pigment Epithelium: Advances, Targeting Approaches, and...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Nanomedicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction causes severe eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), inherited retinal disorders (IRDs), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR).
• Current treatments primarily address secondary disease mechanisms, failing to directly preserve or restore RPE function.
• Efficient delivery of therapeutics to the RPE is hindered by ocular barriers and the need for sustained, localized action.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in nanomedicine for RPE-targeted therapies.
• To highlight design principles, targeting strategies, and therapeutic applications of nanocarriers for RPE delivery.
• To discuss challenges in translating nanotechnology-based treatments for RPE disorders to clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of nanomedicine applications in RPE therapy.
• Analysis of nanocarrier design for ocular barrier penetration and RPE targeting.
• Examination of therapeutic outcomes and translational challenges.

Main Results:

• Nanomedicine enables precise, controlled, and cell-specific delivery of drugs and genes to the RPE.
• Engineered nanocarriers can overcome ocular barriers, enhance bioavailability, and modulate the retinal microenvironment.
• Significant progress has been made in developing nanocarriers for various RPE-related eye conditions.

Conclusions:

• Nanotechnology presents promising solutions for RPE-targeted therapies, addressing limitations of current treatments.
• Optimized nanocarriers offer potential for preserving and restoring RPE function in progressive ocular diseases.
• Further research and development are crucial to overcome translational challenges and advance nanomedicine for clinical application in ophthalmology.