Rilla Lab

Extracellular Vesicles for Retinal Therapeutics

Retinal diseases are a significant cause of vision impairment and blindness worldwide. Current treatments, including intravitreal injections, often face challenges related to drug delivery, including limited bioavailability, rapid clearance and the need for frequent administration. These limitations highlight the need for innovative delivery systems that can provide more controlled, targeted and sustained release of therapeutic agents.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising therapeutic tools and natural drug carriers with huge potential in the field of biologicals. EVs are particularly advantageous for ocular therapies due to their inherent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, which benefit retinal cells. Moreover, their ability to pass through biological barriers, which often impede ocular drug delivery, further enhances their therapeutic potential. Furthermore, the unique anatomy of the eye allows for local administration (intravitreal or suprachoroidal injections), providing targeted, effective, and controlled delivery of EVs to the desired retinal cells.

Our primary objective is to engineer and optimize EVs to enhance their therapeutic potential. We also investigate the unknown intravitreal and retinal mobility, as well as the cellular and intracellular distribution of EVs within retinal cells. To achieve this, we employ a multidisciplinary approach that integrates pharmaceutical and cell biological methods. Essential techniques include advanced imaging methods, the use of hydrogels for sustained release, and proteomics. Our goal is to translate EV technology into ocular therapeutics and develop optimized EV-based therapies that can significantly improve outcomes for patients with retinal diseases. This will open a new era in urgently needed targeted therapies for retinal disorders.