Attention:The NSF Public Access Repository (PAR) system and access will be unavailable from 5:00 PM ET until 8:00 PM ET on Friday, September 11 due to maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Explore Research Products in the PAR
It may take a few hours for recently added research products to appear in PAR search results.


Title: Biomaterial Drug Delivery Systems for Prominent Ocular Diseases
Ocular diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma, have had a profound impact on millions of patients. In the past couple of decades, these diseases have been treated using conventional techniques but have also presented certain challenges and limitations that affect patient experience and outcomes. To address this, biomaterials have been used for ocular drug delivery, and a wide range of systems have been developed. This review will discuss some of the major classes and examples of biomaterials used for the treatment of prominent ocular diseases, including ocular implants (biodegradable and non-biodegradable), nanocarriers (hydrogels, liposomes, nanomicelles, DNA-inspired nanoparticles, and dendrimers), microneedles, and drug-loaded contact lenses. We will also discuss the advantages of these biomaterials over conventional approaches with support from the results of clinical trials that demonstrate their efficacy.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2025362 2234570 1905785
PAR ID:
10456089
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
MDPI
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Pharmaceutics
Volume:
15
Issue:
7
ISSN:
1999-4923
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1959
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. ; ; ; (, Journal of Nanobiotechnology)
    null (Ed.)
    Abstract Advantages of polymeric nanoparticles as drug delivery systems include controlled release, enhanced drug stability and bioavailability, and specific tissue targeting. Nanoparticle properties such as hydrophobicity, size, and charge, mucoadhesion, and surface ligands, as well as administration route and suspension media affect their ability to overcome ocular barriers and distribute in the eye, and must be carefully designed for specific target tissues and ocular diseases. This review seeks to discuss the available literature on the biodistribution of polymeric nanoparticles and discuss the effects of nanoparticle composition and administration method on their ocular penetration, distribution, elimination, toxicity, and efficacy, with potential impact on clinical applications. 
    more » « less
  2. ; ; ; ; (, Nano TransMed)
    Ye, Qingsong (Ed.)
    Biodegradable and adaptable polymeric materials are currently being studied due to their wide scope of potential applications, from nanomedicine to novel multifunctional materials. One such class of polymers are poly(disulfide)s, which contain repeating disulfide bonds in their main chain. Lipoic acid, or thioctic acid, is a biologically derived small molecule containing a 1,2-dithiolane ring capable of undergoing ring opening polymerization to yield poly(disulfide)s. In this review, we highlight the synthesis of lipoic acid-based poly(disulfide)s through thermal and thiolate-initiated ring opening polymerizations, and the development of methodology pertaining to the synthetic methods. We further discuss the biomedical applications of poly(disulfide)s, which have been widely used to construct various responsive biomaterials, including polymer-drug conjugates, nanoparticles, hydrogels, and adhesives. 
    more » « less
  3. ; ; ; ; ; (, GEN Biotechnology)
    Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), particularly those caused by trypanosomatid protozoa, impose a significant global burden, disproportionately affecting underserved communities in tropical and subtropical regions. Despite their high mortality rates, associated chronic conditions, and rapid spread due to globalization and climate change, NTDs have historically received minimal research investment. Additionally, existing treatments cause severe adverse effects. While animal models have contributed significantly to our understanding of these diseases, they are limited by technical and financial constraints. Current in vitro approaches predominantly focus on single-cell interactions on stiff substrates; thus, failing to capture tissue-level dynamics crucial for understanding host-parasite interactions. In this scoping literature review, we summarize emerging engineering applications to address these challenges by developing more complex in vitro models. We discuss 36 publications that describe novel strategies employing biomaterials, organoids, spheroids, and microfluidic devices to improve the mechanistic understanding of these NTDs. We also describe how these preclinical models are being used as screening platforms in the drug discovery and repurposing pipeline. To better understand the global scope of this research, we also performed a meta-analysis of the geolocation of the authors whose work was included in this review. This analysis uncovers uneven global participation in these efforts to combat NTDs. Ultimately, we draw attention to the need for a multidisciplinary and transnational approach to mitigate the impact of trypanosomatid NTDs and reduce health inequities globally. 
    more » « less
  4. ; ; ; (, ACS Nano)
    Microrobots are being explored for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery, biological cargo transport, and minimally invasive surgery. However, current efforts largely focus on proof-of-concept studies with nontranslatable materials through a "design-and-apply" approach, limiting the potential for clinical adaptation. While these proof-of-concept studies have been key to advancing microrobot technologies, we believe that the distinguishing capabilities of microrobots will be most readily brought to patient bedsides through a "design-by-problem" approach, which involves focusing on unsolved problems to inform the design of microrobots with practical capabilities. As outlined below, we propose that the clinical translation of microrobots will be accelerated by a judicious choice of target applications, improved delivery considerations, and the rational selection of translation-ready biomaterials, ultimately reducing patient burden and enhancing the efficacy of therapeutic drugs for difficult-to-treat diseases. 
    more » « less
  5. ; ; ; ; ; ; ; (, British Journal of Ophthalmology)
    Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) have been used for many decades in the treatment of glaucoma. Systemic CAIs were an early treatment option to lower intraocular pressure by reducing aqueous humour production; however, frequent side effects including polyuria and paresthesia contributed to the eventual development of topical CAIs. As topical drug development evolved over time, prostaglandin analogues and beta-blockers have become the gold standard of glaucoma therapies. Although prescribed less often than other classes of topical glaucoma therapies, topical CAIs continue to be used in combination therapies with beta-blockers and alpha agonists. Topical CAIs have also been demonstrated to alter biomarkers of ocular haemodynamics, which have relevance in glaucoma. The purpose of this review is to review and summarise the current state of topical CAI prescribing trends, known efficacy and suggested mechanisms and potential influence on ocular haemodynamics for the future of glaucoma management. 
    more » « less
  • Citation Formats
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
  • BibTeX
  • Text Encoded Conversion
  • XML
  • Save / Share this Record
  • Send to Email