Yao Yingli, Cao Qiannan, Fang Huapan, Tian Huayu
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen Eye Center and Eye Institute of Xiamen University, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005, China.
Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, Shenzhen, 518000, China.
Small. 2025 May;21(21):e2503070. doi: 10.1002/smll.202503070. Epub 2025 Apr 8.
In recent years, nanomaterials have demonstrated broad prospects in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as small-size effects, high biocompatibility, and functional surfaces. Retinal diseases are often accompanied by complex pathological microenvironments, where conventional diagnostic and therapeutic approaches face challenges such as low drug delivery efficiency, risks associated with invasive procedures, and difficulties in real-time monitoring. Nanomaterials hold promise in addressing these limitations of traditional therapies, thereby improving treatment precision and efficacy. The applications of nanomaterials in diagnostics are summarized, where they enable high-resolution retinal imaging by carrying fluorescent probes or contrast agents or act as biosensors to sensitively detect disease-related biomarkers, facilitating early diagnosis and dynamic monitoring. In therapeutics, functionalized nanocarriers can precisely deliver drugs, genes, or antioxidant molecules to retinal target cells, significantly enhancing therapeutic outcomes while reducing systemic toxicity. Additionally, nanofiber materials possess unique properties that make them particularly suitable for retinal regeneration in tissue engineering. By loading neurotrophic factors into nanofiber scaffolds, their regenerative effects can be amplified, promoting the repair of retinal neurons. Despite their immense potential, clinical translation of nanomaterials still requires addressing challenges such as long-term biosafety, scalable manufacturing processes, and optimization of targeting efficiency.
近年来，纳米材料因其独特的物理化学性质，如小尺寸效应、高生物相容性和功能性表面，在视网膜疾病的诊断和治疗中展现出广阔前景。视网膜疾病常伴有复杂的病理微环境，传统的诊断和治疗方法面临着药物递送效率低、侵入性操作风险以及实时监测困难等挑战。纳米材料有望克服传统疗法的这些局限性，从而提高治疗的精准度和疗效。本文总结了纳米材料在诊断方面的应用，它们通过携带荧光探针或造影剂实现高分辨率视网膜成像，或作为生物传感器灵敏地检测疾病相关生物标志物，有助于早期诊断和动态监测。在治疗方面，功能化纳米载体可以将药物、基因或抗氧化分子精确递送至视网膜靶细胞，显著提高治疗效果，同时降低全身毒性。此外，纳米纤维材料具有独特的性能，使其特别适用于组织工程中的视网膜再生。通过将神经营养因子加载到纳米纤维支架中，可以增强其再生作用，促进视网膜神经元的修复。尽管纳米材料具有巨大潜力，但将其临床转化仍需应对长期生物安全性、可扩展制造工艺以及靶向效率优化等挑战。
