Characterization of Ocular Biomaterial Uptake & Release

眼部生物材料吸收的表征

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-03887
• 负责人: Jones, Lyndon
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Waterloo
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=614699
• 关键词: Characterization; Ocular; Biomaterial; Uptake; Release

Biomaterials are materials that come into close contact with living biological cells or fluids. Some of the best examples of biomaterials include heart valves, blood vessels, artificial joint replacements, breast implants, intraocular lens implants (for use following cataract surgery), and contact lenses, of which the latter two are among the most widely used. Over 140 million people worldwide wear contact lenses, of which 90% use soft, hydrogel lenses, which are typically replaced after being used for 1 day to 1 month. In Canada alone, the 3 million wearers of lenses use approximately 30 million new soft lenses annually. These materials come into direct contact with the tear film on the surface of the eye, which is a highly complex fluid containing a wide variety of proteins, oils, metabolites and electrolytes. Once exposed to the tear film, these contact lens materials take up various components from it, some of which may induce inflammatory responses. Once removed, reusable lenses are placed in contact lens solutions that are also complex in their chemistry. These chemicals can be soaked up by the lens and released onto the eye when next inserted. Some of these chemicals can be damaging to the eye and induce low-grade inflammatory responses. Finally, bacteria from the fingers, soaking case or eye itself can also be taken up by the lens. This grant will continue my work in developing an enhanced understanding of the interactions that occur between soft lens materials and the tear film, contact lens solutions and bacteria. It will use a wide variety of cutting-edge laboratory techniques, with a specific emphasis of trying to better understand contact lens-induced inflammation. Our latest work would suggest that certain tear film proteins are “protective” and are able to reduce bacterial contamination of the lenses. Other recent studies have shown that certain proteins change in configuration when exposed to lens materials and this new “form” may induce an inflammatory response. Thus, it may transpire that contact lens materials should be developed that encourage the deposition of certain tear film components and discourage others. This work will include examination of both commercial materials and also include “model” materials that we will fabricate internally that are not yet commercialised, to provide basic information on the ways that soft materials can be developed that exhibit improved performance. Obtaining a greater understanding of the interactions that occur between contact lens materials, solutions and bacteria will help with the development of next generation contact lens materials and other ocular biomaterials. The results will provide excellent training for Canadian students in an area that provides great potential for employment, and will lead to better contact lens materials for the 3 million Canadians who wear contacts.

生物材料是与活的生物细胞或液体密切接触的材料。生物材料的一些最好的例子包括心脏瓣膜、血管、人工关节置换、乳房植入物、眼内透镜植入物（用于白内障手术后）和隐形眼镜，其中后两种是最广泛使用的。全球有超过1.4亿人佩戴隐形眼镜，其中90%使用软性水凝胶镜片，通常在使用1天至1个月后更换。仅在加拿大，300万镜片配戴者每年使用约3000万新的软性镜片。这些物质与眼睛表面的泪膜直接接触，泪膜是一种高度复杂的液体，含有各种蛋白质、油、代谢物和电解质。一旦暴露于泪膜，这些接触透镜材料从泪膜中吸收各种成分，其中一些可能诱发炎症反应。一旦取出，可重复使用的镜片被放置在接触透镜溶液中，接触镜片溶液的化学性质也很复杂。这些化学物质会被透镜吸收，并在下一次插入时释放到眼睛上。这些化学物质中的一些可能会损害眼睛，并引起低度炎症反应。最后，来自手指、浸泡盒或眼睛本身的细菌也可以被透镜吸收。 这项资助将继续我的工作，以提高对软透镜材料与泪膜、接触透镜溶液和细菌之间相互作用的理解。它将使用各种各样的尖端实验室技术，特别强调试图更好地了解隐形眼镜引起的炎症。我们的最新研究表明，某些泪膜蛋白具有“保护性”，能够减少镜片的细菌污染。其他最近的研究表明，当暴露于透镜材料时，某些蛋白质的构型发生变化，这种新的“形式”可能诱导炎症反应。因此，可能发生的是，应当开发促进某些泪膜组分的沉积并阻止其它组分的接触透镜材料。这项工作将包括对商业材料的检查，也包括我们将在内部制造的尚未商业化的“模型”材料，以提供有关软材料开发方法的基本信息，这些材料可以表现出更好的性能。 深入了解接触透镜材料、溶液和细菌之间的相互作用将有助于开发下一代接触透镜材料和其他眼部生物材料。研究结果将为加拿大学生提供一个就业潜力巨大的领域的优秀培训，并将为300万戴隐形眼镜的加拿大人带来更好的隐形透镜材料。