Immunoengineered Biomaterials for Ocular Therapeutics and Regeneration

The eye possesses a highly specialized immune environment that is crucial for maintaining visual function and tissue homeostasis. However, immune dysregulation and chronic inflammation are central to the pathogenesis of numerous ocular disorders, including dry eye disease. Conventional ocular therapies are often hindered by poor bioavailability, limited tissue penetration, frequent dosing requirements, and insufficient regenerative capability. In recent years, sufficient advances in biomaterial science, nanotechnology, and immunoengineering have led to the development of innovative therapeutic platforms capable of modulating ocular immune responses while promoting tissue repair and regeneration. Emerging biomaterials such as hydrogels, nanocarriers, bioactive scaffolds, injectable systems, and stimuli responsive materials are increasingly being designed to actively interact with the ocular immune microenvironment and overcome the limitations of traditional therapies. This research topic aims to provide a comprehensive platform highlighting recent advances in immunoengineered biomaterials for ocular therapeutics and regenerative ophthalmology. The topic seeks to address current challenges associated with ocular drug delivery, chronic inflammation, immune mediated tissue damage, and impaired ocular regeneration by integrating concepts from immunology, biomaterials engineering, nanomedicine, tissue engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences. Recent progress in immune-responsive biomaterials, bioactive polymers, nano-Immunotherapeutics, extracellular vesicles-based systems, and regenerative scaffolds has opened new opportunities for precision ocular therapy. Biomaterials are no longer considered passive drug carriers; instead, they are increasingly engineered to actively modulate immune response pathways, regulate inflammatory mediators, influence immune cell behaviour, and support tissue regeneration. This research topic aims to collect innovative strategies that improve therapeutic efficacy, enhance ocular bioavailability, minimize side effects, and facilitate clinical translation.This topic will particularly emphasize translational and interdisciplinary approaches bridging fundamental ocular immunology with clinically relevant therapeutic applications. By bringing together contributions from researchers in ophthalmology, immunology, biomaterials, regenerative medicine, and nanotechnology, this research topic seeks to advance the next generation of ocular therapeutics and regenerative strategies. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:• Immunomodulatory biomaterials for ocular diseases• Hydrogels, bioactive polymers, and ocular scaffolds• Nanotechnology and nano-immunotherapy for ocular application• Biomaterials interactions with the ocular immune microenvironment• Corneal, retinal, and conjunctival tissue regeneration• Exosomes based extracellular vesicles mediated ocular therapies• Biomaterials for inflammatory and degenerative ocular disorders Topic editors: Dr. Pinal Chaudhari, Amit Khurana, Akanksha Sharma, PhD, Pankaj Kumar Sharma Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82479/immunoengineered-biomaterials-for-ocular-therapeutics-and-regeneration