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, explained, “It’s a targeted-release drug delivery system that is responsive to the body. The more injured you are, the more drug gets delivered, which is unique and potentially a game changer.”
The team behind this breakthrough includes researchers and entrepreneurs from various disciplines at the University of Waterloo. By combining their expertise, they were able to develop a collagen-based material that is 10 times stronger than traditional collagen.
One of the key features of this material is its ability to degrade in the presence of an enzyme found in the eye, which allows for controlled drug release based on the severity of the wound. In fact, in human cell culture studies, the researchers were able to achieve complete wound healing within five days using this novel contact lens material.
Not only does this material show promise for treating eye injuries, but it also has potential applications for other body sites, such as large skin ulcers. The team is now focused on fine-tuning the material and exploring different drug options for entrapping.
This groundbreaking research has been published in the journal Pharmaceutics and could pave the way for a new era of advanced wound healing technologies.