Nanomedicine in the application of uveal melanoma

Abstract

Rapid advances in nanomedicine have significantly changed many aspects of nanoparticle application to the eye including areas of diagnosis, imaging and more importantly drug delivery. The nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems has provided a solution to various drug solubility-related problems in ophthalmology treatment. Nanostructured compounds could be used to achieve local ocular delivery with minimal unwanted systematic side effects produced by taking advantage of the phagocyte system. In addition, the in vivo control release by nanomaterials encapsulated drugs provides prolong exposure of the compound in the body. Furthermore, certain nanoparticles can overcome important body barriers including the blood-retinal barrier as well as the corneal-retinal barrier of the eye for effective delivery of the drug. In summary, the nanotechnology based drug delivery system may serve as an important tool for uveal melanoma treatment.

Keywords: drug delivery; gene delivery; nanomedicine; nanoparticles; uveal melanoma.

Figure 1. Steps of making an antibody labeled quantum dots (QD)

PEG is used to decrease nonspecific binding and decrease the clearance rate while attaching the IgG fragments can lead to increase in affinity.

Figure 2. Diagram of the eye with uveal melanoma and routes of drug delivery to the eye (systemic, periocular, suprachoroidal, intravitreal and topical).