title: Current nanotechnology approaches for the treatment and management of diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a consequence of diabetes mellitus at the ocular level, leading to vision loss, and contributing to the decrease of patient's life quality. The biochemical and anatomic abnormalities that occur in DR are discussed in this review to better understand and manage the development of new therapeutic strategies. The use of new drug delivery systems based on nanoparticles (e.g. liposomes, dendrimers, cationic nanoemulsions, lipid and polymeric nanoparticles) is discussed along with the current traditional treatments, pointing out the advantages of the proposed nanomedicines to target this ocular disease. Despite the multifactorial nature of DR, which is not entirely understood, some strategies based on nanoparticles are being exploited for a more efficient drug delivery to the posterior segment of the eye. On the other hand, the use of some nanoparticles also seems to contribute to the development of DR symptoms (e.g. retinal neovascularization), which are also discussed in light of an efficient management of this ocular chronic disease.
authors.affiliation: CEBIMED, Research Centre for Biomedicine, FP-ENAS, Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal; Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University (UFP-FCS), Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Fangueiro
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, CITAB, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal; Department of Biology and Environment, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Amélia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra (FFUC), Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: ebsouto@ff.uc.pt.
authors.forename: Eliana B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Souto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic retinopathy; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Ocular drug delivery; Retinal neovascularization