Nanobiotechnology‐Based Approaches for Uveal Melanoma Treatment

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.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
SmartMat
Published
2026-02-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/smm2.70065
Primary Topic
Ocular Oncology and Treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Nanobiotechnology‐Based Approaches for Uveal Melanoma Treatment

Diamantis Almaliotis, Ioannis Tsinopoulos, Malamati Poimenidou, Ivan V. Zelepukin et al.
SmartMat
Ocular Oncology and Treatments
article

Nanobiotechnology‐Based Approaches for Uveal Melanoma Treatment

Diamantis Almaliotis, Ioannis Tsinopoulos, Malamati Poimenidou, Ivan V. Zelepukin, Alexey V. Yaremenko, Chrysi Patsidou, Ioannis Iliadis, Nadezhda A. Pechnikova, Maria Zafeiriou‐Chatziefraimidou
article en

Abstract

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.

SmartMatVol. 7(1)
Uppsala University (SE), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR), AHEPA University Hospital (GR), ELFE Group (Greece) (GR), Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute (RU), Papageorgiou General Hospital (GR)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 59%
Ocular Oncology and Treatments
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.