Microfluidic contact lenses for ocular diagnostics and drug delivery

Abstract

The human eye and tear provide essential physiological information for the detection of ocular dysfunctions and therapy monitoring. The measurements of biomarkers in tear composition are critical for disease diagnosis and early interventions. Hence, significant efforts are dedicated to the development of functional contact lenses that can quantify tear analytes and ocular physiological condition. The combination of microfluidics and contact lens technologies offer real-time monitoring of ocular physiology and timely detection of eye disorders through wireless components. This review discusses the fundamentals of microfluidic contact lenses and their diverse applications in ophthalmic diagnostics and drug delivery. It also elucidates the strategies for the commercialization of microfluidic contact lenses to create clinical and point-of-care products.

Smart Contact Lenses—A Step towards Non-Invasive Continuous Eye Health Monitoring

“…Microfluidics stands at the forefront of innovation in the realm of SCLs, ushering in a transformative era in wearable technology and elevating the visual capabilities to new heights [80]. Nestled within the intricate structure of these lenses are minuscule, precisely engineered channels and chambers, enabling the meticulous control and manipulation of fluids [81]. The integration of microfluidic systems into SCLs unlocks a spectrum of functionalities, from administering targeted drug delivery for ocular conditions to dynamically adjusting focal length for individuals grappling with presbyopia.…”

Smart Contact Lenses for Healthcare Monitoring and Therapy

“…The judgment of the IOP thus can be determined by the amount of pigment liquid entering the channel. 152 For instance, a contact lens with a ring microfluidic channel filled with dye solution was developed for IOP measurement (Figure 6c-i). 90 Upon increasing the pressure, the volume of the sensor chamber decreased with the dye entering the sensing channel where the displacement of the dye interface could be optically observed by a smartphone camera.…”

“…Microfluidic contact lens sensors employ a chamber containing a pigment liquid, which enters the microfluidic channel under high IOP. The judgment of the IOP thus can be determined by the amount of pigment liquid entering the channel . For instance, a contact lens with a ring microfluidic channel filled with dye solution was developed for IOP measurement (Figure c-i) .…”

A surface-engineered contact lens for tear fluid biomolecule sensing

“…3 However, most of the sensing contact lens-based platform relies on the complex fabrication of microchannel networks for guiding tears to sensing chambers or multilayer material fabrication, as well as inorganic or 2D nanomaterials for sensing, whose toxic effects have not been investigated in detail. 19,20 In contrast, herein, a novel, simple and facile adhesive contrast contact lens concept is employed wherein the adhesive contrast facilitates the tear film splitting, and these zones act as platforms for spectroscopic analysis of the tear constituents. More importantly, the adhesive contrast is realized by chemically grafting biocompatible silicone oil selectively onto PDMS-based contact lenses via an oxygen plasma treatment approach.…”