Frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine: progress, challenges and perspectives

Abstract The human retina is a fragile and sophisticated light-sensitive tissue in the central nervous system. Unhealthy retinas can cause irreversible visual deterioration and permanent vision loss. Effective therapeutic strategies are restricted to the treatment or reversal of these conditions. In...

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Main Authors: Zhimin Tang, Fuxiang Ye, Ni Ni, Xianqun Fan, Linna Lu, Ping Gu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03095-6
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author Zhimin Tang
Fuxiang Ye
Ni Ni
Xianqun Fan
Linna Lu
Ping Gu
author_facet Zhimin Tang
Fuxiang Ye
Ni Ni
Xianqun Fan
Linna Lu
Ping Gu
author_sort Zhimin Tang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The human retina is a fragile and sophisticated light-sensitive tissue in the central nervous system. Unhealthy retinas can cause irreversible visual deterioration and permanent vision loss. Effective therapeutic strategies are restricted to the treatment or reversal of these conditions. In recent years, nanoscience and nanotechnology have revolutionized targeted management of retinal diseases. Pharmaceuticals, theranostics, regenerative medicine, gene therapy, and retinal prostheses are indispensable for retinal interventions and have been significantly advanced by nanomedical innovations. Hence, this review presents novel insights into the use of versatile nanomaterial-based nanocomposites for frontier retinal applications, including non-invasive drug delivery, theranostic contrast agents, therapeutic nanoagents, gene therapy, stem cell-based therapy, retinal optogenetics and retinal prostheses, which have mainly been reported within the last 5 years. Furthermore, recent progress, potential challenges, and future perspectives in this field are highlighted and discussed in detail, which may shed light on future clinical translations and ultimately, benefit patients with retinal disorders. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-6be646fa2905414c9ea6908d47bdeb5f2025-08-20T02:54:37ZengBMCJournal of Nanobiotechnology1477-31552025-02-0123115010.1186/s12951-025-03095-6Frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine: progress, challenges and perspectivesZhimin Tang0Fuxiang Ye1Ni Ni2Xianqun Fan3Linna Lu4Ping Gu5Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineAbstract The human retina is a fragile and sophisticated light-sensitive tissue in the central nervous system. Unhealthy retinas can cause irreversible visual deterioration and permanent vision loss. Effective therapeutic strategies are restricted to the treatment or reversal of these conditions. In recent years, nanoscience and nanotechnology have revolutionized targeted management of retinal diseases. Pharmaceuticals, theranostics, regenerative medicine, gene therapy, and retinal prostheses are indispensable for retinal interventions and have been significantly advanced by nanomedical innovations. Hence, this review presents novel insights into the use of versatile nanomaterial-based nanocomposites for frontier retinal applications, including non-invasive drug delivery, theranostic contrast agents, therapeutic nanoagents, gene therapy, stem cell-based therapy, retinal optogenetics and retinal prostheses, which have mainly been reported within the last 5 years. Furthermore, recent progress, potential challenges, and future perspectives in this field are highlighted and discussed in detail, which may shed light on future clinical translations and ultimately, benefit patients with retinal disorders. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03095-6Retinal diseasesNanomedicineEye dropTherapeutic nanoagentsTheranosticGene therapy
spellingShingle Zhimin Tang
Fuxiang Ye
Ni Ni
Xianqun Fan
Linna Lu
Ping Gu
Frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine: progress, challenges and perspectives
Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Retinal diseases
Nanomedicine
Eye drop
Therapeutic nanoagents
Theranostic
Gene therapy
title Frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine: progress, challenges and perspectives
title_full Frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine: progress, challenges and perspectives
title_fullStr Frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine: progress, challenges and perspectives
title_full_unstemmed Frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine: progress, challenges and perspectives
title_short Frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine: progress, challenges and perspectives
title_sort frontier applications of retinal nanomedicine progress challenges and perspectives
topic Retinal diseases
Nanomedicine
Eye drop
Therapeutic nanoagents
Theranostic
Gene therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03095-6
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