Bringing ophthalmology into the scientific world: Novel nanoparticle-based strategies for ocular drug delivery

The distinctive benefits and drawbacks of various drug delivery strategies to supply corneal tissue improvement for sense organs have been the attention of studies worldwide in recent decades. Static and dynamic barriers of ocular tissue prevent foreign chemicals from entering and inhibit the active absorption of therapeutic medicines. The distribution of different medications to ocular tissue is one of the most appealing and demanding tasks for investigators in pharmacology, biomaterials, and ophthalmology, and it is critical for cornea wound healing due to the controlled release rate and increased drug bioavailability. It should be mentioned that the transport of various types of medications into the different sections of the eye, particularly the cornea, is exceedingly challenging because of its distinctive structure and various barriers throughout the eye. Nanoparticles are being studied to improve medicine delivery strategies for ocular disease. Repetitive corneal drug delivery using biodegradable nanocarriers allows a medicine to remain in different parts of the cornea for extended periods of time and thus improve administration route effectiveness. In this review, we discussed eye anatomy, ocular delivery barriers, as well as the emphasis on the biodegradable nanomaterials ranging from organic nanostructures, such as nanomicelles, polymers, liposomes, niosomes, nanowafers, nanoemulsions, nanosuspensions, nanocrystals, cubosomes, olaminosomes, hybridized NPs, dendrimers, bilosomes, solid lipid NPs, nanostructured lipid carriers, and nanofiber to organic nanomaterials like silver, gold, and mesoporous silica nanoparticles. In addition, we describe the nanotechnology-based ophthalmic medications that are presently on the market or in clinical studies. Finally, drawing on current trends and therapeutic approaches, we discuss the challenges that innovative optical drug delivery systems confront and propose future research routes. We hope that this review will serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for developing innovative ophthalmic formulations.