Self-Lubricating, Living Contact Lenses

Self-Lubricating, Living Contact Lenses

2024 | María Puertas-Bartolomé, Izabook Gutiérrez-Urrutia, Lara Luana Teruel-Enrico, Cao Nguyen Duong, Krupansh Desai, Sara Trujillo, Christoph Wittmann, and Aránzazu del Campo
A self-lubricating, living contact lens (CL) is developed by embedding biofactories within the CL material to continuously produce and release hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural lubricant. The biofactories, derived from Corynebacterium glutamicum, are encapsulated in a PVA-VS/PVA hydrogel matrix that regulates their activity and HA release. The hydrogel allows for sustained HA release over several weeks, reducing friction and enhancing comfort during long-term CL wear. The CL prototype includes a functional ring at the periphery, outside the vision area, containing the biofactories. The hydrogel matrix is compatible with current CL manufacturing processes and supports bacterial viability and metabolic activity for at least three weeks. The CL is cytocompatible and meets physicochemical requirements of commercial CLs. The living CL can provide sustained HA delivery, reducing the need for external lubricating eye drops. The hydrogel matrix allows for controlled HA release, which can be adjusted by modifying the hydrogel composition and incubation conditions. The CL is tested for cytocompatibility and shows high biocompatibility with fibroblasts. The self-lubricating properties of the CL are demonstrated through reduced friction coefficients, indicating effective lubrication. The CL design offers a durable, self-replenishing solution for long-term wear comfort and could be adapted for various CL materials. The study highlights the potential of living CLs to improve user comfort and reduce reliance on external lubricants.A self-lubricating, living contact lens (CL) is developed by embedding biofactories within the CL material to continuously produce and release hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural lubricant. The biofactories, derived from Corynebacterium glutamicum, are encapsulated in a PVA-VS/PVA hydrogel matrix that regulates their activity and HA release. The hydrogel allows for sustained HA release over several weeks, reducing friction and enhancing comfort during long-term CL wear. The CL prototype includes a functional ring at the periphery, outside the vision area, containing the biofactories. The hydrogel matrix is compatible with current CL manufacturing processes and supports bacterial viability and metabolic activity for at least three weeks. The CL is cytocompatible and meets physicochemical requirements of commercial CLs. The living CL can provide sustained HA delivery, reducing the need for external lubricating eye drops. The hydrogel matrix allows for controlled HA release, which can be adjusted by modifying the hydrogel composition and incubation conditions. The CL is tested for cytocompatibility and shows high biocompatibility with fibroblasts. The self-lubricating properties of the CL are demonstrated through reduced friction coefficients, indicating effective lubrication. The CL design offers a durable, self-replenishing solution for long-term wear comfort and could be adapted for various CL materials. The study highlights the potential of living CLs to improve user comfort and reduce reliance on external lubricants.
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