Supramolecular peptide hydrogels show strong potential for ocular tissue repair and targeted drug delivery

Ocular diseases like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are leading causes of vision loss, often requiring invasive treatments or suffering from poor drug bioavailability due to the eye's complex anatomical barriers. Current ophthalmic therapies frequently struggle with achieving sustained drug release, precise tissue integration, and overcoming rapid drug clearance. Supramolecular peptide hydrogels (SPHs), formed by the self-assembly of peptides, offer a promising biomaterial platform to address these challenges by mimicking native tissue properties and enabling controlled, localized drug delivery. Their dynamic nature allows for tailored mechanical and physiochemical characteristics, crucial for the delicate ocular environment.

This comprehensive review systematically summarized recent advances in supramolecular peptide hydrogels (SPHs) for ocular disease treatment. Researchers analyzed studies focusing on SPH design principles and their applications as both ocular tissue substitutes (e.g., for vitreous and corneal repair) and as advanced drug delivery systems. The review specifically examined SPH efficacy in addressing prevalent ocular pathologies such as dry eye disease, corneal neovascularization, bacterial keratitis, anterior uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration.

The review highlighted that SPHs can be precisely tailored through rational peptide design to emulate native ocular tissues, providing crucial mechanical and physiochemical properties essential for tissue replacement. Their intrinsic dynamic features facilitate efficient encapsulation of various commercial drugs and allow for the incorporation of stimuli-responsive or targeting moieties. This adaptability significantly enhances ocular barrier penetration and improves therapeutic efficacy across a spectrum of conditions.

SPHs demonstrate promising potential as next-generation biomaterials, serving both as effective ocular tissue replacements for vitreous and corneal repair and as sophisticated drug delivery systems. Specific applications include treating dry eye disease by providing sustained lubrication, combating corneal neovascularization by delivering anti-angiogenic agents, and managing infections like bacterial keratitis. Furthermore, SPHs show promise in chronic conditions such as anterior uveitis, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration by enabling localized, long-term drug release and reducing systemic side effects, thereby improving patient outcomes.