Open AccessThe utility and risks of therapeutic nanotechnology in the retina
Author(s) -
Melanie Scheive,
Saeed Yazdani,
Amir Reza Hajrasouliha
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
therapeutic advances in ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2515-8414
DOI - 10.1177/25158414211003381
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , medicine , psychological intervention , clinical practice , drug delivery , intensive care medicine , nanotechnology , neuroscience , psychology , biology , psychiatry , paleontology , materials science , family medicine
The clinical application of nanotechnology in medicine is promising for therapeutic, diagnostic, and surgical improvements in the near future. Nanotechnologies in nano-ophthalmology are in the early stages of application in clinical contexts, including ocular drug and gene delivery systems addressing eye disorders, particularly retinopathies. Retinal diseases are challenging to treat as current interventions, such as intravitreal injections, are limited by their invasive nature. This review examines nanotechnological approaches to retinal diseases in a clinical context. Nanotechnology has the potential to transform pharmacological and surgical interventions by overcoming limitations posed by the protective anatomical and physiological barriers that limit access to the retina. Preclinical research in the application of nanoparticles in diagnostics indicates that nanoparticles can enhance existing diagnostic and screening tools to detect diseases earlier and more easily and improve disease progression monitoring precision.