Advanced drug delivery strategies for diabetic retinopathy: a comprehensive review on current medications, delivery methods, device innovations, overcoming barriers, and experimental models.

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy, a significant trigger for blindness among working age individuals with diabetes, poses a substantial global health challenge. Understanding its underlying mechanisms is pivotal for developing effective treatments. Current treatment options, such as anti-VEGF agents, corticosteroids, laser photocoagulation, and vitreous surgery, have their limitations, prompting the exploration of innovative approaches like nanocapsules based drug-delivery systems. Nanoparticles provide promising solutions to improve drug delivery in ocular medicine, overcoming the complexities of ocular anatomy and existing treatment constraints.

Areas covered: This review explored advanced therapeutic strategies for diabetic retinopathy, focusing on current medications with their limitations, drug delivery methods, device innovations, and overcoming associated barriers. Through comprehensive review, it aimed to contribute to the discovery of more efficient management strategies for diabetic retinopathy in the future.

Expert opinion: In the next five to ten years, we expect a revolutionary shift in how diabetic retinopathy is treated. As we deepen our understanding of oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction, antioxidants are poised to take center stage in prevention and treatment strategies. Our vision is to create a more integrated approach to diabetic retinopathy management that not only improves patient outcomes but also reduces the risks associated to traditional therapies.