Supramolecular Engineering of Nanoceria for Management and Amelioration of Age-Related Macular Degeneration via the Two-Level Blocking of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), is the global leading cause of irreversible blindness. Current first-line therapeutics, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonists, often yield incomplete and suboptimal vision improvement, necessitating the exploration of novel and efficacious therapeutic approaches. Herein, a supramolecular engineering strategy to construct moringin (MOR) loaded α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) coated nanoceria (M@CCNP) is constructed, where the hydroxy and newly formed carbonyl groups of α-CD interact with the nanoceria surface via O─Ce conjunction and the isothiocyanate group of MOR inserts deeply into the α-CD cavity via host-guest interaction. By exploiting the recycling reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capability of nanoceria and the anti-inflammation properties of MOR, the two-level strike during AMD pathogenesis can be precisely blocked by M@CCNP. Remarkably, excellent therapeutic efficacy to CNV is observed in vivo, achieving over 80% reduction in neovascularization and over 60% reduction in leakage area. In summary, the supramolecular engineered nanoceria provides an efficient approach for amelioration of AMD by blocking the two-level strike, and presents significant potential as an exceptional drug delivery platform, particularly for ROS-related diseases.