title: Drug, delivery and devices for diabetic retinopathy (3Ds in DR).
abstract: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common causes of blindness among the working population worldwide. Clearly, there is an unmet clinical need to find better treatment options for DR. Areas covered: The literature search was conducted on PubMed with no limitation on language or year of publication. The review focuses on the clinically used drugs/proteins along with a brief background on the pathophysiology of DR. The major focus of this review revolves around three treatment approaches involving drugs/proteins, drug delivery formulations and drug delivery devices. In each category, major advances are discussed along with the possible solutions. We have also discussed the various modes of administration that are currently being evaluated in the clinic. An attempt has been made to address the potential targeted site of action for DR drug delivery, and also to understand the role of Blood Retinal Barrier (BRB). Expert Opinion: In the current scenario, although there have been some advances in the drug delivery devices for delivering drugs/proteins, there are still challenges to be overcome with regard to the particulate systems. For long-term success of DR therapeutics, research options should consider taking into account the 3Ds (drug, delivery and devices).
authors.affiliation: a NTU-Northwestern Institute for Nanomedicine (NTU), School of Material Science & Engineering (MSE) , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.
authors.forename: Jayabalan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nirmal
authors.affiliation: a NTU-Northwestern Institute for Nanomedicine (NTU), School of Material Science & Engineering (MSE) , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radhakrishnan
authors.affiliation: a NTU-Northwestern Institute for Nanomedicine (NTU), School of Material Science & Engineering (MSE) , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: a NTU-Northwestern Institute for Nanomedicine (NTU), School of Material Science & Engineering (MSE) , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.
authors.forename: Jayaganesh V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Natarajan
authors.affiliation: b National Healthcare Group Eye Institute , Tan Tock Seng Hospital , Singapore , Singapore.
authors.forename: Augustinus
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laude
authors.affiliation: b National Healthcare Group Eye Institute , Tan Tock Seng Hospital , Singapore , Singapore.|c School of Material Science & Engineering (MSE) , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore , Singapore.
authors.forename: Tock Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: a NTU-Northwestern Institute for Nanomedicine (NTU), School of Material Science & Engineering (MSE) , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore.
authors.forename: Subbu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Venkatraman
authors.affiliation: b National Healthcare Group Eye Institute , Tan Tock Seng Hospital , Singapore , Singapore.|c School of Material Science & Engineering (MSE) , Nanyang Technological University , Singapore , Singapore.
authors.forename: Rupesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agrawal
mesh_terms: D001813:Blood-Retinal Barrier / Q000378:metabolism*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans
keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; anti-VEGF; delivery devices; delivery systems; drugs