ABSTRACT
Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels are generated from existing vasculature (Risau 1997). During diabetes, tissue-specifi c and systemic changes in vascular biology may occur and alter the “angiogenic capacity” of the vasculature to either enhance or inhibit angiogenesis (Frank 2004). Research studies have demonstrated that such angiogenic changes play a role in the development and progression of different types of diabetic complications. For instance, decreased angiogenic capacity contributes to impaired wound healing in diabetic patients. In contrast, excessive angiogenesis is a signifi cant component in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and nephropathy (DN). Thus, drugs which inhibit angiogenesis could be effective to limit the progression of DR and DN, although a local drug delivery approach is most desirable in order
to avoid systemically inhibiting angiogenesis and worsening wound healing problems in diabetic patients. This chapter focuses on how nanotechnology is being utilized to develop nanoparticle-based systems to deliver angiogenic inhibitors to target tissues, with a specifi c emphasis on delivery to the retina for the treatment of DR.
