Nanotechnology has the potential to circumvent several drawbacks of conventional therapeutic formulations. In fact, significant strides have been made towards the application of engineered nanomaterials for the treatment of cancer with high specificity, sensitivity and efficacy. Tailor-made nanomaterials functionalized with specific ligands can target cancer cells in a predictable manner and deliver encapsulated payloads effectively. Moreover, nanomaterials can also be designed for increased drug loading, improved half-life in the body, controlled release, and selective distribution by modifying their composition, size, morphology, and surface chemistry. To date, polymeric nanomaterials, metallic nanoparticles, carbon-based materials, liposomes, and dendrimers have been developed as smart drug delivery systems for cancer treatment, demonstrating enhanced pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles over conventional formulations due to their nanoscale size and unique physicochemical characteristics. The data present in the literature suggest that nanotechnology will provide next-generation platforms for cancer management and anticancer therapy. Therefore, in this critical review, we summarize a range of nanomaterials which are currently being employed for anticancer therapies and discuss the fundamental role of their physicochemical properties in cancer management. We further elaborate on the topical progress made to date toward nanomaterial engineering for cancer therapy, including current strategies for drug targeting and release for efficient cancer administration. We also discuss issues of nanotoxicity, which is an often-neglected feature of nanotechnology. Finally, we attempt to summarize the current challenges in nanotherapeutics and provide an outlook on the future of this important field.

Hemichannels contribute to ATP release on mechanical stimulation in BCECs. The released ATP contributes to propagation of the Ca(2+) wave.

The corneal endothelium maintains stromal deturgescence, which is a prerequisite for corneal transparency. The principal challenge to stromal deturgescence is the swelling pressure associated with the hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans in the stroma. This negative pressure induces fluid leak into the stroma from the anterior chamber, but the rate of leak is restrained by the tight junctions (TJs) of the endothelium. This role of the endothelium represents its barrier function. In healthy cornea, the fluid leak is counterbalanced by an active fluid pump mechanism associated with the endothelium itself. Although this Pump-Leak hypothesis was postulated several decades ago, the mechanisms underlying regulation of the balance between the pump and leak functions remain largely unknown. In the last couple of decades, the ion transport systems that support the fluid pump activity have been discovered. In contrast, despite significant evidence for corneal edema secondary to endothelial barrier dysfunction, the molecular aspects underlying its regulation are relatively unknown. Recent findings in our laboratory, however, indicate that barrier integrity (i.e., structural and functional integrity of the TJs) of the endothelium is sensitive to remodeling of its peri-junctional actomyosin ring (PAMR), which is located at the apical junctional complex. This review provides a focused perspective on dynamic regulation of the barrier integrity of endothelium vis-à-vis plasticity of the PAMR and its association with cell signaling downstream of small GTPases of the Rho family. Based on findings to date, it appears that development of specific pharmacological strategies to treat corneal edema in response to inflammatory stress would be possible in the near future. Keywords cornea; endothelium; pump-leak hypothesis; tight junctions; actomyosin contraction As a monolayer of cells forming a regular hexagonal mosaic at the posterior surface of the cornea, the corneal endothelium forms a critical epithelial interface between the anterior chamber and the corneal stroma. From a cell physiologic perspective, despite its name, the corneal endothelium is quintessentially a leaky epithelium. It is considered to be of neural crest origin, ~ 5 µm thick, and typically exhibits a cell density of 2500 cells/mm 2 in adult human eyes. 1 In the early 1970s, the physiological activity of the corneal endothelium became well known from a series of experiments by Maurice et al., 2, 3 using rabbit cornea in vitro. Even to this day, their experimental paradigm is routinely employed in studies on the endothelial physiology. Their experiments demonstrated, without a doubt, that the corneal endothelium Correspondance: Sangly P. Srinivas, 800 East Atwater Avenue, Indiana University, School of Optometry, Bloomington, IN 47405, srinivas@indiana.edu. Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript wi...

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Monthly intraocular injections are widely used to deliver protein-based drugs that cannot cross the blood-retina barrier for the treatment of leading blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This invasive treatment carries significant risks, including bleeding, pain, infection, and retinal detachment. Further, current therapies are associated with a rate of retinal fibrosis and geographic atrophy significantly higher than that which occurs in the described natural history of AMD. A novel therapeutic strategy which improves outcomes in a less invasive manner, reduces risk, and provides long-term inhibition of angiogenesis and fibrosis is a felt medical need. Here we show that a single intravenous injection of targeted, biodegradable nanoparticles delivering a recombinant Flt23k intraceptor plasmid homes to neovascular lesions in the retina and regresses CNV in primate and murine AMD models. Moreover, this treatment suppressed subretinal fibrosis, which is currently not addressed by clinical therapies. Murine vision, as tested by OptoMotry©, significantly improved with nearly 40% restoration of visual loss induced by CNV. We found no evidence of ocular or systemic toxicity from nanoparticle treatment. These findings offer a nanoparticle-based platform for targeted, vitreous-sparing, extended-release, nonviral gene therapy.

PMS of BCECs induces release of ATP and a concomitant intercellular Ca2+ wave, even in the absence of direct cell-cell contacts. The AA of the wave is modulated by agents that affect P2Y receptor activity. Thus, PMS-induced intercellular Ca2+ wave propagation in BCECs involves ATP-dependent paracrine IC.

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