Quirina Ferreira’s research while affiliated with Universidade NOVA de Lisboa and other places

Optic neuropathies, such as glaucoma, are some of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. There has been a lot of research for potential therapies that could attenuate and even reduce the impact of the pathological pathways that lead to the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In recent years, vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) has gained some interest as a viable option for these neurodegenerative diseases due to its fundamental role in enhancing the mitochondria metabolism of the RGCs. This review focuses on elucidating the impact of vitamin B3 on retinal cells, especially when in a dysfunctional state like what happens in optic neuropathies, especially glaucoma. This review also summarizes the existing and future research on the clinical effects of vitamin B3 in these optic neuropathies, and determines appropriate recommendations regarding its dosing, efficacy, and eventual side effects.

Nanotechnology enabled the development of materials and devices with great utility in different fields of medicine. By using engineered-based nano-devices and structures, human biological systems may be controlled and repaired at a molecular scale, ultimately leading to a biological benefit. In particular, in the field of glaucoma treatment, nanotechnology may, for example, enhance drug residence time on the ocular surface and ocular bioavailability, as well as improve surgical success by both optimizing post-operative scarring and providing a wider safety window. Further studies are still needed to entirely explain the pharmacodynamics of nanotechnology-based therapeutic approaches and prove their biological consequences in human eyes. This review aims to summarize the literature concerning the advances in nanotechnology, specifically regarding ocular devices applied to the treatment of glaucoma.