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. 2023 Jul 22;15(7):2005. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15072005

Table 2.

Next-generation nanomedicines and their potential applications in retinal diseases.

Nanomedicines Applications Refs.
Gold nanoparticles

  • Delivers across ocular barriers to the retina when applied as eye drops or intravenous injections.

  • Inhibits vascular permeability and angiogenesis in retinal diseases.

 [25,26,27,28]
Silver nanoparticles

  • Inhibits vascular permeability, endothelial cell proliferation, and migration.

 [29,30]
Platinum, cerium oxide and yttrium oxide nanoparticles

  • Inhibits oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in retinal cells.

 [31,32,33]
Iron oxide nanoparticles

  • Assists stem cells and drug delivery.

  • Provides transient BRB * breakdown for enhanced bioavailability.

 [34,35,36]
Silica nanoparticles, carbon nanospheres, calcium phosphate nanoparticles

  • Sustained delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs.

  • Helps in targeted drug delivery to specific cells in the retina.

  • Enhances bioavailability of the drug.

 [37,38,39,40]
Nanofibers

  • Controlled delivery of drugs, proteins, and DNA to the retina.

  • Bruch’s membrane mimic and RPE tissue engineering.

  • Optic nerve regeneration.

 [4,41,42,43]
Nano topography

  • Nutrient growth and orientation.

 [42,44]
Contact lens

  • Sustained non-invasive drug delivery of the drug.

  • Overcomes tear fluid and tear film barrier.

 [45]
Carbon nanotubes

  • Retinal tissue engineering and interface material for retinal function.

  • Supports cell viability, proliferation, neurite outgrowth, neuron biocompatibility, and mechanical integrity.

 [46,47]
Nanoprobes

  • Detection of intracellular molecules in retina.

 [48]
Selenium nanobelts

  • Implantable artificial retina or rapid photon detector/stimulator for optogenetics.

 [49]
Nanosponge

  • Neutralizes toxins and acts as adjunctive therapy for the treatment of ocular infections.

 [50,51]
Nanoantennae

  • Near-infrared light transducer and night vision.

 [52]
Polymeric nanoparticles
Dendrimers

  • Non-invasive drug delivery system as eye drops.

  • Targets systemic delivery.

  • Increases half-life of the drug.

  • Sustained delivery for months.

  • The versatility of the drug delivery system will allow the delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, proteins or peptides, DNA or RNA, and aptamers.

  • Stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems.

 [8,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63]
Lipid nanoparticles
Liposomes

  • Non-invasive drug delivery system as eye drops.

  • Targets systemic delivery.

  • Increases half-life of the drug.

  • Sustained delivery for hours.

  • The versatility of the drug delivery system will allow for the delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, proteins or peptides, DNA or RNA, and aptamers.

  • Stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems.

 [64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73]
Polymeric micelles

  • Non-invasive drug delivery system as eye drops.

  • Targets systemic delivery.

  • Increases half-life of the drug.

  • Sustained delivery for days.

  • The versatility of the drug delivery system allows for the delivery of hydrophobic drugs, DNA, or RNA.

  • Stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems.

 [74,75,76,77,78,79]
Nanoemulsion
Nanogels

  • Non-invasive drug delivery system which can be applied as eye drops.

  • Increase in half-life of the drug.

  • Sustained delivery for days.

  • Stimulus-responsive drug delivery systems.

 [80,81,82,83,84,85,86]

* BRB—Blood–retinal barrier.