Ajekiigbe Victor Oluwatomiwa, Agbo Chinonyelum Emmanuel, Ogieuhi Ikponmwosa Jude, Anthony Chidera Stanley, Adewole Olajumoke Adesola, Ahmed Bisharat, Akingbola Adewunmi, Nwankwo Chinemelum Kingsley, Kayode Ayomide Timilehin, Chima Uzochukwu Emmanuel, Adaobi Obed Mercy
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Int Ophthalmol. 2025 Mar 22;45(1):113. doi: 10.1007/s10792-025-03493-7.
The human eye, a photo-sensory organ with an array of neuronal and tissue networks, remains susceptible to damage from various diseases and disorders despite its being a flawless masterpiece. It is estimated that over 2 billion people suffer from vision loss with common causative factors such as; age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and infections amongst others. The use of Orthodox procedures has only helped mitigate the pathology; however, it doesn't serve any substantial curative purpose. More recently, the incorporation of new therapies via ocular delivery of nanomaterials and stem cell intervention has helped to change tides in the treatment of various ophthalmic pathologies.
This review provides an overview of the current trends and breakthroughs in ophthalmology via stem cell therapy, with emphasis on its types, mechanisms, applications, and benefits. Mesenchymal stem cells which can arise from embryonic or adult origin possess some immunomodulatory effects that contribute to the therapeutic relevance of the MSCs and the ability to evade rejection from the host. However, the major drawback has been uncontrolled growth which can result in unintended side effects. Moreso, religious and ethical issues concerning the employment of MSCs from embryonic origin have also hindered clinical progression with its use. The use of stem cell therapy in the treatment of eye pathologies which is still undergoing clinical trials has shown to be a more viable treatment approach in ophthalmology as it targets retinal degenerative diseases thereby offering novel pathways for vision restoration. And also serves as a revolutionary alternative for treating severe ocular diseases. Stem cell delivery techniques might be quite cumbersome as the eye is a very delicate organ. The therapeutic interventional technique employed is aimed to ensure the reduction or absence of undesired effects in the deposition of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) being the stem cells. Techniques such as hydrogel-based injectables, which offer delivery of the APIs to the desired site of action without change in the physicochemical properties of the drug molecule, the scaffold delivery techniques, and the use of 3D bio-printing which can be used to develop scaffolds for retinal degeneration. The employment of artificial intelligence and machine learning in stem cell therapy has shown to be very fast and efficient in stem cell delivery and preventing likely human errors.
Unlike conventional treatments that often focus on managing symptoms, stem cells have the unique ability to repair and regenerate damaged tissues, addressing the root causes of the diseases. However, limitations due to economic, regulatory, and ethical challenges have posed barriers to advancing stem cell therapies.
人眼是一个拥有一系列神经元和组织网络的光感器官，尽管它堪称完美杰作，但仍易受到各种疾病和功能紊乱的损害。据估计，超过20亿人患有视力丧失问题，常见病因包括年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）、青光眼、白内障、糖尿病视网膜病变以及感染等。传统治疗方法仅有助于减轻病理症状；然而，它并无实质性的治愈作用。最近，通过纳米材料的眼部递送和干细胞干预引入新疗法，有助于改变各种眼科疾病的治疗形势。
本综述概述了眼科领域通过干细胞疗法的当前趋势和突破，重点介绍了其类型、机制、应用和益处。间充质干细胞可源自胚胎或成人，具有一些免疫调节作用，这有助于间充质干细胞的治疗相关性以及逃避宿主排斥的能力。然而，主要缺点是生长不受控制，这可能导致意外的副作用。此外，关于使用源自胚胎的间充质干细胞的宗教和伦理问题也阻碍了其临床应用的进展。干细胞疗法用于治疗眼部疾病仍在进行临床试验，已显示出在眼科领域是一种更可行的治疗方法，因为它针对视网膜退行性疾病，从而为视力恢复提供了新途径。并且也是治疗严重眼部疾病的一种革命性替代方法。由于眼睛是一个非常脆弱的器官，干细胞递送技术可能相当繁琐。所采用的治疗干预技术旨在确保减少或避免作为干细胞的活性药物成分（API）沉积时产生的不良影响。诸如基于水凝胶的注射剂等技术，可将API递送至所需作用部位而不改变药物分子的物理化学性质，支架递送技术，以及使用3D生物打印来开发用于视网膜变性的支架。在干细胞疗法中使用人工智能和机器学习已显示出在干细胞递送方面非常快速且高效，并可防止可能出现的人为错误。
与通常侧重于管理症状的传统治疗方法不同，干细胞具有修复和再生受损组织的独特能力，能够解决疾病的根本原因。然而，由于经济、监管和伦理挑战带来的限制，已成为推进干细胞疗法的障碍。
