Abstract
Presentation Description :
The microRNA (miRNA) network plays a critical role in regulating numerous biological processes such as proliferation, migration, autophagy, apoptosis and inflammation in both health and disease. Consequently miRNAs have unlimited promise as novel therapeutics and, when complexed to nanoparticles (NPs) offer a means to bypass the formidable barrier to drug penetration provided by the limbal/corneal epithelium in conjunction with the tear film. One of the major hurdles to achieving this goal has been to effectively formulate and deliver therapeutic miRNAs to the cytoplasm of target cells in a stable form. In this presentation, we will provide evidence that synthetic, functional high density lipoprotein (HDL)-like nanoparticles (HDL NPs). can deliver miRNAs to primary human corneal epithelial cells, a macrophage cell line and intact tissues of the limbus/cornea, with functional consequences. This has vast translational opportunities, and provides a basis for developing innovative treatment regimens based on miRNA delivery to enhance normal physiological processes (e.g., cell migration), or in patients with inflammatory diseases that affect the ocular anterior epithelia.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.