2026/02/01 by Nadezhda A. Pechnikova, Ioannis Iliadis, Malamati Poimenidou +6 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · Medicine · #Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques #Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics #Ocular Oncology and Treatments
paper · doi:10.1002/smm2.70065
openalex publication_date 2026/02/01 · openalex created_date 2026/02/11 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02
ABSTRACT Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most lethal primary intraocular tumour in adults: contemporary eye‐preserving treatments secure local control but frequently compromise vision and do little to prevent liver‐tropic metastases. Nanobiotechnology offers routes to change this equation by overcoming ocular barriers, concentrating therapy precisely within tumour tissue, and extending control to micrometastases. This review surveys liposomal and polymeric carriers, virus‐like drug conjugates (exemplified by belzupacap sarotalocan), nucleic‐acid and gene‐editing platforms, and nano‐enabled photo‐ and immunotherapies that can be delivered intravitreally, suprachoroidally, or systemically. We highlight theranostic designs that pair deep‐tissue imaging with on‐demand cytotoxicity, nano‐vaccines and immune‐reprogramming formulations that convert “cold” UM into treatment‐responsive disease, and strategies tuned for the hepatic niche that underlies UM mortality. Across these technologies, we distil design principles for ocular targeting, controlled release, and immune engagement, and we map the translational pipeline from preclinical validation to ongoing trials. We also delineate the outstanding hurdles such as manufacturing scale‐up, biodistribution and immunotoxicity profiling, dose optimization, and biomarker‐guided patient selection, whose resolution will determine clinical impact. Together, convergent advances in materials science, ocular oncology and tumour immunology position nanomedicine to deliver vision‐sparing, metastasis‐addressing treatments for UM and to redefine standards of care.