A team of researchers at the University of Waterloo has developed a groundbreaking new contact lens material that could revolutionize the way we treat corneal wounds. This innovative material acts as a bandage for the eye while also releasing drugs in a controlled manner to help speed up the healing process.
Traditionally, patients with corneal abrasions have to wear a bandage contact lens for seven to 10 days, along with antibiotic eye drops. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that enough medication stays on the eye for effective treatment. Dr. Lyndon Jones, a professor at Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science, explains that their new material is a targeted-release drug delivery system that responds to the body’s needs. The more severe the injury, the more medication is delivered, making it a potential game changer in eye care.
The team behind this innovation includes researchers and entrepreneurs from various disciplines, such as chemical engineering and biochemistry. By combining their expertise, they were able to develop a collagen-based material that is ten times stronger than traditional materials used in contact lenses. This material degrades in the presence of specific enzymes found in the eye, allowing for controlled drug release proportional to the severity of the wound.
In human cell culture studies, the researchers achieved complete wound healing within five days using this novel contact lens material. The material is also designed to only activate at eye temperatures, providing a built-in storage mechanism.
The next step for the team is to fine-tune the material and explore the possibility of entrapping different drugs in it. They believe that their innovative material has the potential to not only revolutionize eye care but also be used in treating large skin ulcers.
This groundbreaking research has been published in the journal Pharmaceutics, showcasing the potential impact of this new contact lens material. For more information, you can refer to the original source.