Targeting Ocular Tissue through Surface-Modified and MultifunctionalBiomaterials and mRNA-Based Therapeutics

Targeting the ocular surfaces and improving retention time are crucial to achieving high therapeuticoutcomes for eye diseases. The most frequently used ophthalmic preparation is ocular drops, which, however,come with various limitations; therefore, advanced eye formulations are essential for the ocular medical field.Different methods, such as penetration enhancers, nanoparticles, ocular inserts, and lenses, have been utilizedto improve the eye retention time. Although these formulations present limited advantages, combining themwith surface-modified polymers can improve the therapeutic outcomes. Surface modification can be achievedthrough physical, chemical, and other methods. Chemical grafting is one of the most preferable methods, giventhat it is a straightforward methodology. This review summarizes the ocular microenvironment and eyebarriers that should be overcome when designing ocular drug delivery systems. Most importantly, it summarizesocular drug delivery systems based on surface-modified materials and emerging nanocarriers, also combinedwith IVT-mRNA therapeutics, offering promising advancements by enhancing targeting precision andtherapeutic efficacy.