Exploring the Insights on Exosomes and their Utility in Treating Ophthalmic Disease: Delving into the Clinical Approval and Present Trials

Curr Drug Deliv. 2024 Sep 16. doi: 10.2174/0115672018324046240905134931. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Ophthalmic diseases include a wide array of conditions, each requiring individualized treatment approaches. In ophthalmic research and as therapeutics against potential pharmacological indications, several subtypes of exosomes (EVs) have been reconnoitered, mainly for their regenerative, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory characteristics. EVs are recently gaining wider attention as promising vehicles for therapies because of their natural participation in communication between cells and targeted delivery. These small vesicles, derived from cells, transport numerous molecules between cells, thus contributing advantages like low immunogenicity, stability, and the ability to target cells specifically. These inherent advantages of carrying the therapeutic cargo and enabling intercellular signaling make them a captivating avenue for progressing ophthalmic disease treatment options. While research is ongoing, and clinical applications are still emerging, several EV subtypes have shown promise for possible applications in addressing several ophthalmic diseases, such as glaucoma, age-related macular degenerative disorders, retinal degenerative disorders, and ocular inflammatory conditions.

Keywords: Ophthalmic diseases; clinical trials; drug delivery.; drug targeting; exosomes.