Drug delivery devices for retinal diseases

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews
Author(s): Hirokazu Kaji, Nobuhiro Nagai, Matsuhiko Nishizawa, Toshiaki Abe
Retinal degenerative diseases are a leading cause of irreversible blindness and visual impairment, affecting millions of people worldwide. Although intravitreal injection can directly deliver drugs to the posterior segment of the eye, it is invasive and associated with serious side effects. The design of drug delivery systems targeting the posterior segment of the eye in a less invasive manner has still been challenging because of various anatomical and physiological barriers. In this review, we provide an overview of the current implant device-based approaches used for treating retinal degenerative diseases. We then offer our perspectives on future directions and challenges that remain for developing more effective device-based therapies for retinal diseases.

Graphical abstract

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