In healthy eyes,
the tear film lipid layer (TFLL) is considered
to act as an evaporation resistant barrier, which prevents eyes from
drying. Seeking to understand the mechanisms behind the evaporation
resistance of the TFLL, we studied mixtures of lipid layer wax esters
and O-acyl-ω-hydroxy fatty acids. Analyzing
their self-assembly and biophysical properties led to new discoveries
concerning the structure and function of the TFLL. We discovered how
these lipids self-assemble at the air–water interface and form
an efficient antievaporative barrier, demonstrating for the first
time how the interaction of different tear film lipid species can
improve the evaporation resistance compared with individual lipid
classes on their own. These results provide a potential mechanism
for the evaporation resistance of the lipid layer. In addition, the
results serve as a base for the future development of improved dry
eye treatments and other applications where the evaporation of water
represents a significant challenge.
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