Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42147272›Full record

ReviewRegenerative biomaterials2026

Advances in hydrogel-mediated gene therapy in ophthalmology: future directions and therapeutic potential.

Qinghe Zhang, Ke Yan, Yufei Lv, Tao Tao, Shinan Wu, Zixuan Yang, Linyan Ma, Caihong Huang, Qiuping Liu, Yi Han and 1 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Regenerative biomaterials, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Qinghe ZhangXiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science; Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Eye Institute of Xiamen University; School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
Ke YanDepartment of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
Yufei LvDepartment of Human Anatomy, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
Tao TaoXiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science; Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Eye Institute of Xiamen University; School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
Shinan WuXiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science; Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Eye Institute of Xiamen University; School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
Zixuan YangXiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science; Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Eye Institute of Xiamen University; School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
Linyan MaDepartment of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
Caihong HuangXiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science; Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Eye Institute of Xiamen University; School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
Qiuping LiuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
Yi HanDepartment of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5226-3476
Zuguo LiuXiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science; Fujian Engineering and Research Center of Eye Regenerative Medicine, Eye Institute of Xiamen University; School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Hydrogel-mediated  gene  therapy  has  achieved significant progress in the field of ophthalmology in recent years. As three-dimensional polymeric networks with high water content, hydrogels exhibit excellent biocompatibility, localized targeting capability and sustained-release properties. These characteristics make them ideal carriers for nucleic acid-based drugs, including DNA, RNA and gene editing systems. They can significantly improve the therapeutic efficacy and delivery kinetics of ocular drug administration, demonstrating unique advantages in the special ocular environment. This review systematically examines the current state of hydrogel-based gene therapy research in ophthalmology. First, recent advances in gene therapy are summarized, and the involved gene types and technical strategies are categorized. Second, various categories of hydrogels are outlined, including photo-responsive, temperature-sensitive and pH-responsive hydrogels. Their key characteristics for ocular gene delivery are also summarized. Furthermore, this article focuses on analyzing the design strategies for hydrogel-mediated gene therapy. Key design considerations include gene encapsulation, stability control and release kinetics. In addition, various gene-hydrogel integration strategies are discussed, including covalent conjugation and physical loading methods. Their impacts on transfection efficiency and therapeutic outcomes are also analyzed. Additionally, cutting-edge applications of hydrogel-based gene therapy in treating ocular diseases are systematically introduced, covering both anterior segment and fundus diseases. Finally, the limitations and future development prospects of these gene therapy hydrogel systems in ophthalmic research are discussed.

Indexed as

CRISPR/Cas9gene therapyhydrogelophthalmologyRNAi

Identifiers

PMID42147272
PMCPMC13176459

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.