Long-term suppression of retinal degeneration with anti-VEGF agents-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles

  • Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2026 Jun:262:115527. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.115527.
Ruiqi Guo  1 ,  Ying Huang  2 ,  Xuehan Zhang  3 ,  Mingming Qin  4 ,  Hao Sun  5 ,  Xiaoqian Jin  6 ,  Jing Xu  7 ,  Yang Kang  8 ,  Kai Li  9 ,  Yunlong Zhou  10 ,  Kaihui Nan  11 ,  Yi Zheng  12 ,  Shaoqin Liu  13
Affiliations
  • 1. Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 2. National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 3. National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 4. Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Tissue Repair Materials, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 5. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 6. National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 7. Eye Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 8. Eye Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 9. Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 10. Zhejiang Engineering Research Center for Tissue Repair Materials, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 11. National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 12. Eye Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 13. Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150080, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41655333 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2026.115527
Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) that leads to degeneration of the overlying photoreceptor in the macula and consequent loss of central vision is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in elderly population. Since vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is pivotal for stimulating neovascularization, monthly intravitreal (IVT) injections of anti-VEGF agents have been used for eliminating neovascularization. However, repeated monthly IVT injections could cause side effects and serious complications. Herein, we report the development of two kinds of anti-VEGF agents (Ranibizumab (Ran) and Aflibercept (Afl))-loaded hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for effective treatment of AMD. The designed nanoparticles show no toxicity for both in vitro and in vivo, and could significantly inhibit VEGF-induced proliferation and cell migration. Long-term in vivo experiments in the laser photocoagulation induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) model for wet AMD show that these nanoparticles effectively inhibit VEGF-induced neovascularization leakage and formation at least 8 weeks upon one IVT injection and therefore are a promising treatment strategy for AMD.

Keywords
Anti-VEGF; Drug delivery; Neovascular age-related macular degeneration; Silica nanoparticles.
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