Potential of Lipoprotein-Based Nanoparticulate Formulations for the Treatment of Eye Diseases

Lipoproteins are naturally occurring nanoparticles and their main physiological function is the promotion of lipid metabolism. They can be prepared in vitro for use as drug carriers, and these reconstituted lipoproteins show similar biological activity to their natural counterparts. Some lipoproteins can cross the blood-retinal barrier and are involved in intraocular lipid metabolism. Drug-loaded lipoproteins can be delivered to the retina for the treatment of posterior eye diseases. In this review, we have discussed the therapeutic applications of lipoproteins for eye diseases and introduced the emerging animal models used for the evaluation of their therapeutic effects.

A high-density lipoprotein-mediated drug delivery system

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a comparatively dense and small lipoprotein that can carry lipids as a multifunctional aggregate in plasma. Several studies have shown that increasing the levels or improving the functionality of HDL is a promising target for treating a wide variety of diseases. Among lipoproteins, HDL particles possess unique physicochemical properties, including naturally synthesized physiological components, amphipathic apolipoproteins, lipid-loading and hydrophobic agent-incorporating characteristics, specific protein-protein interactions, heterogeneity, nanoparticles, and smaller size. Recently, the feasibility and superiority of using HDL particles as drug delivery vehicles have been of great interest. In this review, we summarize the structure, constituents, biogenesis, remodeling, and reconstitution of HDL drug delivery systems, focusing on their delivery capability, characteristics, applications, manufacturing, and drug-loading and drug-targeting characteristics. Finally, the future prospects are presented regarding the clinical application and challenges of using HDL as a pharmacodelivery carrier.