Ocular Disease Treatment

The eye consists of several protective barriers and specific defense mechanisms, making it a complex organ. Topical drug delivery is one of the most used methods for the treatment of ocular diseases but is inefficient due to drug bioavailability. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems, which are safe, effective and enable targeted delivery, are able to circumvent the limitations associated with the complex anatomy of the eye. Dendrimers as a nanomaterial play an active role in the treatment of ocular diseases.

Introduction into the Treatment of Ocular Disease

The treatment of ocular diseases depends on the specific disease and its severity. Some common treatments for ocular diseases include:

• Medications
  Eye drops, ointments, and oral medications are often used to treat ocular diseases such as glaucoma, uveitis, and dry eye. Medications may include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, or drugs that reduce intraocular pressure.
• Surgery
  In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat ocular diseases, such as cataracts, glaucoma, or retinal detachment. Laser surgery can also be used to treat certain eye conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy.
• Injections
  Injections of medications directly into the eye can be used to treat some ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
• Photodynamic Therapy
  Photodynamic therapy is a treatment that involves the use of a photosensitizing agent and a special light source to destroy abnormal blood vessels in the eye, as seen in macular degeneration.

Limitations of Medications for Ocular Diseases

Most of the drugs used for ocular diseases are administered topically in the form of eye drops. Unfortunately, the specific anatomy and effective protective physiological mechanisms of the eye result in very low bioavailability of the drug. For example, epithelial cells prevent drug penetration and tear flow causes dilution and efflux of drugs. In order to improve the bioavailability of drugs for ocular diseases, effective strategies need to be implemented to increase drug residence time to minimize side effects.

Dendrimers for Ocular Disease Treatment

Dendrimers are highly branched, monodisperse, and synthetic macromolecules that have been extensively studied as drug delivery systems due to their unique properties, such as high surface area, tunable size, and multifunctionality. In ocular disease, dendrimers have been explored as a potential therapeutic option due to their ability to deliver drugs specifically to the site of action, minimize systemic toxicity, and improve drug solubility and bioavailability. Some of the ocular diseases where dendrimers have been investigated include:

Dendrimers are used in the treatment of ocular diseases through ocular delivery and intraocular administration. (Rodríguez Villanueva J, et al., 2016)

• Dendrimers for Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Treatment
  AMD is a leading cause of blindness in the elderly population. Dendrimers have been used to deliver anti-angiogenic agents, such as ranibizumab and bevacizumab, which inhibit the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the eye. These agents have shown promising results in preclinical studies.
• Dendrimers for Glaucoma Treatment
  Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause irreversible blindness. Dendrimers have been used to deliver antiglaucoma drugs, such as brimonidine and timolol, to the eye. These agents have shown increased efficacy and prolonged drug retention in preclinical studies.
• Dendrimers for Uveitis Treatment
  Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, which can lead to vision loss. Dendrimers have been explored as a delivery vehicle for anti-inflammatory drugs, such as dexamethasone and cyclosporine A. These agents have shown improved therapeutic outcomes in preclinical studies.

How We Can Help

CD BioSciences leverages our extensive experience and technical excellence in dendrimers to help our customers overcome the challenges of dendrimer applications in the biomedical field to meet the growing demand for dendrimers in various fields. We provide not only high-quality custom services but also innovative dendrimer products to facilitate the research progress of your attractive projects. If you are interested in our services or have any other questions, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Rodríguez Villanueva J.; et al. Dendrimers as a promising tool in ocular therapeutics: Latest advances and perspectives. Int J Pharm. 2016, 511: 359-366.