Abstract
The human eye is a specialized organ with a complex anatomy and physiology, because it is characterized by different cell types with specific physiological functions. Given the complexity of the eye, ocular tissues are finely organized and orchestrated. In the last few years, many in vitro models have been developed in order to meet the 3Rs principle (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) for eye toxicity testing. This procedure is highly necessary to ensure that the risks associated with ophthalmic products meet appropriate safety criteria. In vitro preclinical testing is now a well-established practice of significant importance for evaluating the efficacy and safety of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical products. Along with in vitro testing, also computational procedures, herein described, for evaluating the pharmacological profile of potential ocular drug candidates including their toxicity, are in rapid expansion. In this review, the ocular cell types and functionality are described, providing an overview about the scientific challenge for the development of three-dimensional (3D) in vitro models.
Highlights
The human eye is a deeply specialized organ with a singular anatomy and physiology, comprehending several structures with specific physiological functions
The human eye is a specialized organ with a complex anatomy and physiology, because it is characterized by different cell types with specific physiological functions
Due to the complexity of the eye anatomy, a crucial issue in the development and realization of ophthalmic products and medical devices is to identify the specific mechanism of toxicity that could lead to severe adverse effects [6]
Summary
The human eye is a deeply specialized organ with a singular anatomy and physiology, comprehending several structures with specific physiological functions. According to its crucial role in regulating the vision process, many pathological conditions affecting the retina may progressively lead to an altered vision or blindness [12,13] Based on these observations, along with the necessity to reduce tests on animals for evaluating the pharmacological profile of possible ocular drug candidates for given ophthalmic disorders (drug delivery/drug efficacy), including possible toxicity issues, the development of suitable and robust in vitro ocular models is a challenging task. Along with the necessity to reduce tests on animals for evaluating the pharmacological profile of possible ocular drug candidates for given ophthalmic disorders (drug delivery/drug efficacy), including possible toxicity issues, the development of suitable and robust in vitro ocular models is a challenging task These models allow to investigate the different aspects of the ocular pathophysiology of different diseases as well as the potential efficacy of possible therapeutic agents [14]. Possible pharmacological application of 3D reconstructed human corneal tissues are reported as well as the most advanced in silico approaches in the field of ocular pharmacology and toxicology
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