Nanotechnology: revolutionizing the delivery of drugs to treat age-related macular degeneration

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive retinal disease that degrades the eye’s ability to grasp visual acuity. The antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies have made significant strides in improving the quality of life, and there is a continued opportunity to improve delivery, outcomes, and patient convenience and compliance. The treatments available could gain better clinical outcome from novel therapeutics through nanotechnology application.

Areas covered: This review summarizes AMD biology and the pathophysiology of the disease along with the successes and limitations of available therapies. It further discusses the promising nanotechnology modalities that could become the cornerstone of future AMD research for improving delivery and reducing frequency of administration thus, enabling development of novel therapeutics.

Expert opinion: The robust translation from preclinical work to clinical outcome for AMD remains an unmet need. Continuing to investigate in deeper understanding of biology and advancing high-quality targets into the clinic in combination with the application of advanced nanotechnology to design patient-centric offerings for both dry and wet AMD is needed. Because of the lack of regulatory precedence, and challenging manufacturing and supply chain need, the future of nano-enabled technologies is challenging but presents exciting treatment options for AMD.

KEYWORDS:

• AMD
• vegf
• nanotechnology
• delivery
• aseptic manufacturing
• regulatory

Article highlights

• The eye’s anatomy is unique, and coupled with the complex biology and pathophysiology of age-related macular degeneration, the delivery of drugs to the back of the eye for AMD treatment is challenging.

• VEGF inhibitors are standard of care; however, there remains an opportunity for novel therapeutics and drug delivery systems, devices, and carriers to make the dosing more effective, minimally invasive, and less frequent.

• The application of nanotechnology through diverse nanocarriers systems could enable the delivery of therapeutics with a longer half-life, reduced clearance, acceptable immunogenicity, and improved performance.

• The article discusses the technical and regulatory challenges that NC systems must overcome to translate potential preclinical work to the clinic. It also summarizes recent advancements in AMD research.

• Robust preclinical models, patient-centric dosage, and delivery devices, a flexible regulatory roadmap, and a reliable supply chain to bring investigational candidates into medicines is essential.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.