Recent advanced technologies for ocular drug delivery: the transformative impact of nanotechnology on treating eye disorders

Maram ElToukhy, Mozen Elsir, Waleed Khattab

Abstract


Ocular drug delivery remains a significant challenge due to the eye’s unique anatomical and physiological barriers, such as tear film dynamics, corneal epithelium, and blood-ocular barriers, which limit drug penetration and reduce the bioavailability of conventional formulations such as eye drops, suspensions, and ointments. These extensively utilized procedures, while non-invasive and simple, have less than 5% bioavailability and necessitate frequent dosage, jeopardizing therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance. To address these constraints, recent improvements have centered on innovative ocular drug delivery platforms that allow for longer residence duration, tailored release, and improved therapeutic effects. Nanotechnology-based systems, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, nanoemulsions, niosomes, and cubosomes, show promise in terms of solubility, stability, and penetration while minimizing systemic side effects. Their clinical potential has been established in a variety of anterior and posterior segment problems, including glaucoma, dry eye disease, microbial keratitis, retinal degeneration, and uveitis, with several nanocarrier formulations now licensed for use in clinical settings. Microneedles, punctal plugs, iontophoresis, and sustained-release implants are other advancements that broaden the therapeutic arsenal, allowing for accurate and minimally invasive drug administration. Despite these gains, clinical translation faces significant obstacles, particularly in terms of long-term safety, nanotoxicity, large-scale manufacturing, stability, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory approval, all of which necessitate comprehensive review and standardization. In the future, the combination of smart stimuli-responsive systems, gene therapy vectors, and personalized delivery platforms has the potential to transform ophthalmic care by allowing for tailored, sustained, and patient-specific therapies. These developments highlight nanotechnology’s dramatic impact on ocular drug delivery, paving the way for safer, more effective, and accessible treatments for vision-threatening eye conditions.

 

Received on, 18 October 2025

Accepted on, 17 December 2025

Published on, 24 December 2025


Keywords


Ocular; Nanotechnology; Nanoparticles; Glaucoma; Retinopathy.

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References


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DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21622/AMPDR.2025.05.2.1736

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Copyright (c) 2025 Maram Mohamed ElToukhy, Mozen Elsir, Waleed Mohammed Khattab

Advances in Medical, Pharmaceutical and Dental Research

E-ISSN: 2812-4898

P-ISSN: 2812-488X

 

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