OCULAR DRUG DELIVERY DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE THEREFORE
Contact lenses with dissolvable nanoneedles that provide burst and sustained ocular drug release.
Ocular drug delivery is very challenging due to the complex and sensitive structure of the eye. Researchers at Purdue University have developed a minimally invasive and effective ocular drug delivery platform. This method enables long term sustained release of therapeutic ocular drugs via a tear-soluble contact lens that leaves behind biodegradable silicon nanoneedles. The tear-soluble contact lens provides an optimal curvature to fit the cornea and it is degraded in less than a minute, enabling initial short-term release of anti-inflammatory drugs and long-term release of therapeutic drugs. This technology directly benefits patients undergoing treatment for chronic diseases or injuries, including glaucoma, cataract, and graft rejection.
Advantages
Minimally invasive
- Long term sustained release
- Initial burst release of anti-inflammatory
- Long-term release of therapeutic drugs
- Demonstrated biosafety and efficacy in lab testing
Applications
- Ocular drug delivery
- Treatments for glaucoma, cataract, and graft rejection
Technology Validation:
This technology has been validated for efficacy and safety through successful in vivo testing in a rabbit corneal neovascularization (CNV) model.
TRL: 4
Intellectual Property:
Provisional-Gov. Funding, 2021-10-08, United States
PCT-Gov. Funding, 2022-10-10, WO
NATL-Patent, 2024-04-08, United States
Keywords: Biomedical Engineering, Drug Delivery, Glaucoma, Intraocular Injection, ocular