Title:Therapeutics and Carriers: The Dual Role of Proteins in Nanoparticles for Ocular Delivery
Volume: 15
Issue: 4
Author(s): Silvia Pescina, Fabio Sonvico, Patrizia Santi and Sara Nicoli
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Carrier proteins, Functionalized nanoparticles, Nanocarrier, Nanoparticle, Ocular barriers, Ophthalmic drug delivery,
Peptides, Therapeutic proteins.
Abstract: Blindness and visual impairment affect millions of people worldwide and have a very important
impact on patients quality of life. Proteins and peptides represent nowadays an important therapeutic tool for
the treatment of ocular diseases but, despite their potential, have significant limitations, as the administration
of protein-based pharmaceuticals represents a real challenge. Moreover, administration of ocular medications
is difficult due to the peculiar structure of this organ and the presence of numerous barriers protecting the eye
inner structure. Nanoencapsulation of peptides and proteins presents a number of advantages for their ocular delivery
since it can protect the drug from metabolic activity, control and sustain the release and increase drug bioavailability after
topical or intravitreal administration. In fact, nanoparticulate formulations are contributing to overcome ocular barriers,
such as the corneal or the blood-retinal barrier, improve the residence time in the eye, increase local drug level, reduce the
drug dosage and showing improved performance when compared to conventional formulations. Besides, proteins have
also been proposed for the preparation of nanocarriers intended for ophthalmic administration, since they are highly biocompatible,
biodegradable and easily modified to link surface ligands. The present review focuses the attention on the use
of proteins in ocular drug delivery nanotechnology: their dual role as both therapeutics and carriers has been critically
evaluated and discussed.
