NANOTHERAPIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD) DISEASE: RECENT ADVANCEMENTS AND CHALLENGES.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is one of the common diseases affecting the posterior part of the eye, affecting a large population above 45 years old. Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A (Anti-VEGF-A) agents have been considered as approved as therapeutic agents for the treatment of AMD. Due to the large molecular weight and poor permeability through various eye membranes, VEGF-A inhibitors are given through intravitreal injection. Even though the delivery of small therapeutic molecules by topical application to the posterior part of the eye exhibit challenges in treatment. To overcome these limitations nanocarriers based delivery systems have been utilized to a large extent for delivery of therapeutics. Nanocarriers system offers prodigious benefits for delivery of therapeutics to posterior part of eye in both invasive and non-invasive techniques. The nano size can improve the permeation of therapeutic agent across the biological membranes. They provide protection from enzymes present at site, targeted delivery or binding with the disease site, extended release of therapeutic agent with prolong retention. This leads to improved therapeutic efficacy, patient compliance, and cost effectiveness of therapy with minimum dose associated side effects. This review has summarized various nanocarriers explored for the treatment of AMD and challenges in the translation.