Abstract
Sensory functions including vision are necessary to maintain the quality of life, but those functions deteriorate due to diseases and aging. Because approximately 80% of all sensory input is received via the eyes, countermeasures against emerging visual dysfunctions should be developed, especially in super-aging countries such as Japan. Retinal degenerative diseases are a leading cause of irreversible blindness and visual impairment, affecting millions of people worldwide. Although intravitreal injection can directly deliver drugs to the posterior segment of the eye, it is invasive and associated with serious side effects. The design of drug delivery systems targeting the posterior segment of the eye in a less invasive manner has still been challenging because of various anatomical and physiological barriers. Herein, the transscleral drug delivery system and the subretinal cell delivery system we have been developing are introduced.
