title: Silver nano - a trove for retinal therapies.
abstract: Pathological retinal angiogenesis (neovascularization) is one of the most feared complications among retinal diseases, leading to visual impairment and irreversible blindness. Recent findings made by us on therapeutic applications of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against VEGF induced retinal endothelial cells, elucidates the effectual inhibitory activities of AgNPs over the downstream signaling pathways (Src and AKT/PI3K) leading to retinal angiogenesis. The current review focuses on the imperative role of VEGF induced angiogenesis in the development of retinal neovascularization and despite the fact that several VEGF targeting ocular drugs are available; the review examines the need for a cost economic alternative, thereby suggesting the role of AgNPs as an emerging economic ocular drug for retinal therapies. The current technologies available for the development of targeted and controlled release of drugs is being discussed and a model has been proposed for the amenable targeting mechanism, by which Poly gamma glutamic acid (PGA) capsulated AgNPs conjugated to cyclic RGD peptides carry out a sustained controlled release specifically targeting the neovascularization cells and induce apoptosis unaffecting the normal retinal cells. These constructs consequently affirm the futuristic application of silver nanoparticles as a boon to ocular therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kalasalingam University, Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil-626190, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Kalimuthu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalishwaralal
authors.forename: Selvaraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barathmanikanth
authors.forename: Sureshbabu Ram Kumar
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pandian
authors.forename: Venkatraman
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deepak
authors.forename: Sangiliyandi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gurunathan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000639:trends; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012834:Silver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D012834:Silver; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt