Disrupting the Oxidative Stress-Inflammation-Corneal Neovascularization Cycle with Ultrasmall Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Nanomedicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Corneal neovascularization (CoNV) is a significant cause of vision loss, driven by a cycle of inflammation, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis.
• Current treatments for CoNV face challenges due to the complex pathological mechanisms involved.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a noninvasive, transepithelial therapeutic strategy for CoNV using ultrasmall polydopamine nanoparticles (UPDA NPs).
• To evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-angiogenic properties of UPDA NPs in vitro and in vivo.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of ultrasmall polydopamine nanoparticles (approx. 3 nm).
• Assessment of UPDA NPs' radical-scavenging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic activities.
• In vivo evaluation in an alkali-burned mouse model to assess CoNV reduction and corneal repair.

Main Results:

• UPDA NPs demonstrated potent radical-scavenging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic effects.
• Treatment with UPDA NPs significantly reduced corneal neovascularization area and length in mice.
• Accelerated corneal repair and absence of local or systemic toxicity were observed.

Conclusions:

• UPDA NPs provide a promising noninvasive nanomedicine for treating CoNV by disrupting the pathological cycle.
• The triple therapeutic effects (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic) of UPDA NPs offer translational potential for precise CoNV treatment.