A new era in posterior segment ocular drug delivery: Translation of systemic, cell-targeted, dendrimer-based therapies

Rangaramanujam M Kannan; Ian Pitha; Kunal S Parikh

doi:10.1016/j.addr.2023.115005

A new era in posterior segment ocular drug delivery: Translation of systemic, cell-targeted, dendrimer-based therapies

Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2023 Sep:200:115005. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115005. Epub 2023 Jul 6.

Authors

Rangaramanujam M Kannan¹, Ian Pitha², Kunal S Parikh³

Affiliations

¹ Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Departments of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: krangar1@jhmi.edu.
² Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Glaucoma Center of Excellence, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Center for Nanomedicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.

PMID: 37419213
DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115005

Abstract

Vision impairment and loss due to posterior segment ocular disorders, including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, are a rapidly growing cause of disability globally. Current treatments consist primarily of intravitreal injections aimed at preventing disease progression and characterized by high cost and repeated clinic visits. Nanotechnology provides a promising platform for drug delivery to the eye, with potential to overcome anatomical and physiological barriers to provide safe, effective, and sustained treatment modalities. However, there are few nanomedicines approved for posterior segment disorders, and fewer that target specific cells or that are compatible with systemic administration. Targeting cell types that mediate these disorders via systemic administration may unlock transformative opportunities for nanomedicine and significantly improve patient access, acceptability, and outcomes. We highlight the development of hydroxyl polyamidoamine dendrimer-based therapeutics that demonstrate ligand-free cell targeting via systemic administration and are under clinical investigation for treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.

Keywords: Age-related macular degeneration; Clinical trial; Dendrimer; Diabetic retinopathy; Drug delivery; Eye; Glaucoma; Nanomedicine; Sustained release.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Dendrimers* / metabolism
Drug Delivery Systems
Eye / metabolism
Eye Diseases* / metabolism
Humans
Macular Degeneration* / drug therapy
Macular Degeneration* / metabolism

Substances

Dendrimers