Daily Disposable Contact Lenses Dissolve Cystine Crystals Found Within the Cornea
These contact lenses encompass gold nanoparticles for treating dry eyes, cystinosis, and protecting against laser burns. Meibomian Glad Dysfunction (MGD) is a condition in which the Meibomian glands do not secrete oils, resulting in loss of the film on tears for protecting against evaporation. This can be treated by warming the glands to melt lipids and increase secretion. Gold nanoparticle loaded contact lenses are warmed on exposure to light which can in turn warm the glands. The same light absorption capability is also useful in blocking accidental laser exposure. Cystinosis is an inherited disorder where the host’s sematic cells contain large concentrations of the amino acid cystine. As a result of a genetic mutation, cystine molecules are unable to transport out of intracellular structures known as lysosomes, causing poor appetite, rickets, and cystine crystals in the cornea. One popular treatment method is cysteamine-based eye drops, which cost patients approximately $85,000 per year. However, this treatment method is ineffective as it poses severe side effects and requires precise measures before use, such as maintaining a low storage temperature. To prevent toxicity, manufacturers use small concentrations of the drug, requiring patients to consistently apply eye drops every hour for every day to complete a 200 day dissolution process. Thus, low compliance is common among patients with cystinosis, increasing the time for crystals to dissolve and diffuse out of the cornea.
Researchers at the University of Florida have designed gold nanoparticle (GNP) contact lenses for multiple applications including warming Meibomian glands to increase oil secretion to treat dry eyes, dissolving cystine eye crystals and treating patients with cystinosis, and protecting against laser burns upon accidental exposure. These contact lenses offer a drug-free treatment and protection from the previously mentioned applications.
Application
GNP-containing contact lenses for treating MGD dry eyes, protecting from laser burns, or offering a drug-free treatment of cystinosis
Advantages
- Uses commercially available contact lenses, shortening the path to commercialization
- Can tune gold nanoparticle (GNP) size and loading, meeting the needs of targeted applications
- Other types of particles in lenses are manufactural using gold nanoparticles (GNP)
Technology
These contact lenses are commercial contact lenses loaded with gold nanoparticles (GNP) post-manufacturing. This shortens the path to commercialization as a medical device. The biggest market is for treating dry eyes but other applications are also viable.
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