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Recent Progress in Selenium Nanomedicines for Ocular Diseases
Bo Jiang1, Liyue Zhang1, Nan Hong1
1Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, People's Republic of China.
International Journal of Nanomedicine
|February 25, 2026
Summary
Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) offer a promising, safer alternative for treating eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and cataracts, showing enhanced bioavailability and reduced toxicity in preclinical studies.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Ophthalmology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Vision impairment is a major global health issue, with cataracts, AMD, glaucoma, and DR being leading causes in the elderly.
- Current ophthalmic drugs suffer from poor bioavailability and toxicity, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Selenium (Se) has known ocular benefits but faces limitations in therapeutic window and bioavailability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) as nanomedicines for ocular diseases.
- To analyze the synergistic effects of SeNPs' intrinsic bioactivities and drug delivery capabilities.
- To assess the clinical translation potential of Se-based nanomedicines for complex eye conditions.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar.
- Analysis of preclinical and early clinical data on SeNPs for various ocular pathologies.
- Evaluation of SeNP mechanisms, including antioxidant and anti-angiogenic properties.
Main Results:
- SeNPs demonstrate enhanced bioavailability, reduced toxicity, and targeted delivery potential compared to conventional Se therapies.
- Strong preclinical evidence supports SeNPs in models of diabetic retinopathy, neovascularization, keratitis, and cataracts.
- A Phase I trial of quantum dots (QDs) in retinitis pigmentosa showed tolerability and visual function improvements.
Conclusions:
- SeNPs represent versatile nanoplatforms with multi-mechanistic bioactivities for treating complex ocular diseases.
- Se-based nanomedicines show significant potential for clinical translation in ophthalmology.
- Further research is crucial to optimize SeNP design and facilitate their safe clinical application.
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