1. Targeted drug delivery to the retinal pigment epithelium: Untapped therapeutic potential for retinal diseases.
- Author
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Bohley, Marilena, Dillinger, Andrea E., Tamm, Ernst R., and Goepferich, Achim
- Subjects
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RETINAL diseases , *TARGETED drug delivery , *RHODOPSIN , *MACULAR degeneration , *DIABETIC retinopathy , *EPITHELIUM - Abstract
• Most retinal diseases underly multifactorial pathomechanisms. • The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a key part in these pathomechanisms. • Targeted RPE therapy can be used to efficiently treat retinal diseases. • Intravitreal and systemic nanoparticle systems can reach the RPE. • Guidance for the development of RPE-specific nanotherapeutics is provided. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) plays a crucial part in sight-threatening diseases. In this review, we shed light on the pivotal implication of the RPE in age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity; and explain why a paradigm shift toward targeted RPE therapy is needed to efficiently fight these retinal diseases. We provide guidance for the development of RPE-specific nanotherapeutics by giving a comprehensive overview of the possibilities and challenges of drug delivery to the RPE and highlight successful nanotherapeutic approaches targeting the RPE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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