Recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases: New frontiers in drug delivery systems

Retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema, are significant contributors to vision loss. While injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors is the current gold standard treatment, their invasive nature reduces patient compliance and treatment outco...

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Main Authors: Weiliang Wang, Nancy Wang, Xinxin Zhao, Xinyi Su, Zengping Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-06-01
Series:APL Bioengineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0264382
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author Weiliang Wang
Nancy Wang
Xinxin Zhao
Xinyi Su
Zengping Liu
author_facet Weiliang Wang
Nancy Wang
Xinxin Zhao
Xinyi Su
Zengping Liu
author_sort Weiliang Wang
collection DOAJ
description Retinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema, are significant contributors to vision loss. While injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors is the current gold standard treatment, their invasive nature reduces patient compliance and treatment outcomes and increases the risk of complications. In this review, we explore the recent advancements in drug delivery systems designed to overcome ocular barriers to effectively deliver drugs to the retina. We examine advancements in intravitreal injections, such as novel formulations, therapeutic molecules, and sustained-release implants. Moreover, we discuss innovations in noninvasive strategies, such as topical delivery systems incorporating cell-penetrating peptides, solid lipid nanoparticles, dendrimers, and nano-micelles. These technologies aim to enhance drug penetration, stability, and bioavailability. Although preclinical and clinical trials have yielded promising results, challenges remain in ensuring long-term safety and efficacy. This review highlights future research directions to optimize these approaches and develop more effective, patient-friendly therapies for retinal diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-03cdad315f5e4196991f0c25d3c074ff2025-08-20T02:38:29ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Bioengineering2473-28772025-06-0192020902020902-1710.1063/5.0264382Recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases: New frontiers in drug delivery systemsWeiliang Wang0Nancy Wang1Xinxin Zhao2Xinyi Su3Zengping Liu4Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeInstitute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, SingaporeRetinal diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema, are significant contributors to vision loss. While injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors is the current gold standard treatment, their invasive nature reduces patient compliance and treatment outcomes and increases the risk of complications. In this review, we explore the recent advancements in drug delivery systems designed to overcome ocular barriers to effectively deliver drugs to the retina. We examine advancements in intravitreal injections, such as novel formulations, therapeutic molecules, and sustained-release implants. Moreover, we discuss innovations in noninvasive strategies, such as topical delivery systems incorporating cell-penetrating peptides, solid lipid nanoparticles, dendrimers, and nano-micelles. These technologies aim to enhance drug penetration, stability, and bioavailability. Although preclinical and clinical trials have yielded promising results, challenges remain in ensuring long-term safety and efficacy. This review highlights future research directions to optimize these approaches and develop more effective, patient-friendly therapies for retinal diseases.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0264382
spellingShingle Weiliang Wang
Nancy Wang
Xinxin Zhao
Xinyi Su
Zengping Liu
Recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases: New frontiers in drug delivery systems
APL Bioengineering
title Recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases: New frontiers in drug delivery systems
title_full Recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases: New frontiers in drug delivery systems
title_fullStr Recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases: New frontiers in drug delivery systems
title_full_unstemmed Recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases: New frontiers in drug delivery systems
title_short Recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases: New frontiers in drug delivery systems
title_sort recent advancements in polymer science for retinal diseases new frontiers in drug delivery systems
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0264382
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