Unlocking the Untapped Potential of Photoresponsive Dual-Gas Nanomedicine in Glaucoma Therapy

Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, is characterized by optic nerve damage often associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Although gas therapies hold promise for glaucoma treatment, the limitations of single-gas strategies constrain their therapeutic efficacy. Here, a photoresponsive dual-gas nanomedicine is developed for targeted glaucoma therapy. The nanomedicine, PdH-D-S, is engineered by synthesizing mesoporous palladium hydride (meso-PdH) with efficient hydrogen (H-2) storage capacity and abundant pore channels, followed by surface modification with DSPE-mPEG and loading sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a nitric oxide (NO) donor. PdH-D-S penetrates the cornea to reach IOP-regulating tissues, including the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal. Upon 808 nm laser excitation, PdH-D-S releases H-2 and NO in a controlled manner. H-2 activates the AKT/p-AKT/eNOS/sGC signaling pathway, while NO binds to soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), converting guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), relaxing trabecular meshwork cells and enhancing aqueous humor outflow. This dual-gas system demonstrates high therapeutic efficacy in lowering IOP and offers a mechanistic advancement in glaucoma treatment through synergistic gas therapy.