Recent advances in nanomedicine for ocular drug delivery

Abstract

Vision impairment is a major global health challenge, with its prevalence projected to rise significantly in the coming decades due to an aging population and increasing rates of chronic diseases. Ocular conditions such as age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, refractive errors, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy are among the primary causes of vision loss, collectively affecting nearly 200 million individuals worldwide. This growing burden has intensified the demand for ophthalmic therapies that are more effective, safer, and more targeted.

Among existing treatment strategies, ocular drug delivery systems provide a non-invasive route for administering medications directly to ocular tissues. However, their clinical effectiveness is often compromised by various anatomical and physiological barriers, including tear turnover, blinking, nasolacrimal drainage, and blood-ocular barriers, which limit drug retention time and significantly reduce bioavailability. In response to these challenges, the application of nanomedicine has emerged as a highly promising strategy to improve ocular drug delivery.

This review presents recent advances in drug nanodelivery systems – such as dendrimers, liposomes, nanoemulsion, solid lipid nanoparticles, in situ gel formulations, exosomes, metalorganic frameworks, and nanocrystals – that have demonstrated advantages in enhancing drug solubility, prolonging drug release, improving corneal penetration, and reducing dosing frequency and systemic side effects. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and personalized medicine in the development and optimization of ocular nanomedicine is explored.

AI tools such as predictive modeling, machine learning algorithms, and data-driven formulation strategies remain underutilized in ophthalmology, yet they offer tremendous potential to accelerate innovation, individualize treatment, and enhance clinical translation. This review concludes that future research should prioritize not only the advancement of safer and more efficient drug nanodelivery systems but also the incorporation of AI to transform ocular drug delivery into a more precise and patient-centered approach.

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Nicholas Peh Hian Tung ,Wei Meng Lim ,Yun Khoon Liew ,Chaw Jiang Lim ,Yoon Yee Then ,Kok Whye Cheong ,Lai Chun Wong. Recent advances in nanomedicine for ocular drug delivery. BMT null, 0(0), 00022. https://doi.org/10.12336/bmt.25.00022