3D engineering for optic neuropathy treatment

Drug Discov Today. 2021 Jan;26(1):181-188. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.09.034. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

Abstract

Ocular disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), and glaucoma, can cause irreversible visual loss, and affect the quality of life of millions of patients. However, only very few 3D systems can mimic human ocular pathophysiology, especially the retinal degenerative diseases, which involve the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), photoreceptors, or retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEs). In this review, we discuss current progress in the 3D modeling of ocular tissues, and review the use of the aforementioned technologies for optic neuropathy treatment according to the categories of associated disease models and their applications in drug screening, mechanism studies, and cell and gene therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / methods
  • Computer Simulation
  • Drug Design* / methods
  • Drug Design* / trends
  • Engineering* / methods
  • Engineering* / trends
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological*
  • Optic Nerve Diseases* / physiopathology
  • Optic Nerve Diseases* / therapy
  • Printing, Three-Dimensional*
  • Retina* / pathology
  • Retina* / physiopathology