Advanced nanotherapeutics for combating ocular infections: Rational design, antimicrobial mechanisms, and therapeutic breakthroughs

Abstract Ocular infections such as keratitis and conjunctivitis pose severe vision‐threatening risks, exacerbated by diverse pathogens and escalating antimicrobial resistance. Conventional treatments are limited by inadequate ocular bioavailability and frequent dosing. Nanotechnology offers transformative solutions by enabling targeted, sustained drug delivery and enhanced penetration through ocular barriers while augmenting antimicrobial potency. This review systematically examines the rational design, composition, and synthesis of advanced nanomaterials, specifically metal‐based, polymer‐based, and lipid‐based nanostructures. Furthermore, it critically analyzes multimodal hybrid systems and stimuli‐responsive platforms for combating ocular pathogens. Key strategies explored encompass direct antimicrobial mechanisms, biofilm penetration and disruption, and immunomodulation. We next examine the preclinical efficacy and emerging clinical evidence, while also addressing persistent challenges in biocompatibility, biodegradation kinetics, scalable manufacturing, and regulatory pathways. Finally, we summarize future directions including artificial intelligence (AI)‐driven nanomaterial design, personalized nanomedicine, and wearable nanodevices. Collectively, these advances position nanotherapeutics as promising candidates for next‐generation ocular anti‐infectives.