Photoluminescent device for therapeutic treatment through the eyes

Abstract

Photoluminescent device for therapeutic treatment through the eyes, comprising a transparent support with one free side facing the patient's eye and provided on the other side with an active coating comprising at least two quantum dots, i.e., two nanostructures, chosen from: graphene, blue-luminescent graphene, cyan-luminescent graphene, aqua-green-luminescent graphene, Perovskite coated with oleic acid and oleylamine, CdTe carboxylate, CdS / ZnS functionalized with oleic acid.

Description

[0001] Fabio Fontana

[0002] “Photoluminescent device for therapeutic treatment through the eyes’

[0003] *****

[0004] The present invention relates to devices for the therapeutic treatment of the eyes, and in particular to a photoluminescent device for therapeutic treatment through the eyes.

[0005] In the constant development of technologies applied to optics, so- called photoluminescent nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots, have been considered for use due to some of their properties. In particular, document CN110262077 describes a sunglass lens comprising a substrate and a quantum layer laminated on the surface layer of the substrate. The quantum layer contains quantum dots that have shell structures with a nanometric core and particle sizes between 2 and 10 nm. With this sunglass lens, harmful blue-violet light can be transformed into blue-green light, thus improving the protective function of the sunglass lens.

[0006] Document WO2018167237 describes a device comprising optical amplification means suitable for amplifying visible light arriving on the retina. Preferably, optical amplification means comprise a semiconductor array composed of elements transparent to visible wavelengths. The device can be integrated into an active lens implant or corrective eyewear.

[0007] As can be seen, in the first case, quantum dots are used to modify incident radiation and limit the harmful effects of higher frequencies, while in the other case, the characteristics of quantum dots are exploited to amplify radiation and improve the perceiving capabilities of the retina. In both cases, therefore, there is no real therapeutic effect, but rather the peculiarities of the incident radiation are modified.

[0008] Document WO2021084424, filed by the same applicant of the present application, describes therapeutic devices comprising a laminar support element and at least two quantum dots, i.e. , two nanostructures, chosen from: graphene, blue-luminescent graphene, cyan-luminescent graphene, aqua-green-luminescent graphene, Perovskite coated with oleic acid and oleylamine, CdTe carboxylate, CdS / ZnS functionalized with oleic acid, where said support element is transparent to the reference electromagnetic radiation, in addition to that emitted by the human body, one side of the device being suitable for contact with the patient's skin, and with a mixture of at least two of the above quantum dots positioned on the opposite side with a concentration between 1 .0 mg / cm2and 100.0 mg / cm2, capable of emitting photons at the reference wavelength, and with an intensity between 0.1 mW / cm2and 0.5 mW / cm2, and preferably between 0.2 mW / cm2and 0.4 mW / cm2, and in which said reference wavelength is between 280 and 740 nm, and preferably between 350 and 530 nm, when stimulated by at least one infrared, visible, or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation.

[0009] The development of the research underlying the above-mentioned invention has led the present applicant to consider the possibility of using the eyes as a gateway to the central nervous system, in order to directly stimulate the hypothalamus, via the retina, the optic nerves, and finally the optic chiasm, to directly influence the peripheral nerve endings.

[0010] The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a therapeutic device that exploits the interaction capabilities of quantum dots with light radiation to transfer them to the patient's nervous system, improving their postural conditions.

[0011] The subject of this invention is therefore a photoluminescent device for therapeutic treatment through the eyes, comprising a transparent support with one free side facing the patient's eye and provided on the other side with an active coating comprising at least two quantum dots, i.e., two nanostructures, chosen from: graphene, blue luminescent graphene, cyan luminescent graphene, aqua green luminescent graphene, Perovskite coated with oleic acid and oleylamine, CdTe carboxylate, CdS / ZnS functionalized with oleic acid. The active coating is a layer of transparent material in which the photoluminescent nanoparticles are dispersed or applied, and which is in turn applied to a wall of the transparent support. It may consist of a solid film that is formed and then applied, or a fluid composition that is spread on the transparent support and subsequently solidifies.

[0012] In the active coating, the photoluminescent nanoparticles are present in a concentration of between 1.0 mg / cm2and 100.0 mg / cm2, capable of emitting photons at the reference wavelength, and with an intensity of between 0.1 mW / cm2and 0.5 mW / cm2, and preferably between 0.2 mW / cm2and 0.4 mW / cm2, and in which said reference wavelength is between 280 and 740 nm, and preferably between 350 and 530 nm, when stimulated by at least one infrared, visible, or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation.

[0013] In one embodiment, said transparent support is a lens for eyeglasses, graduated or ungraduated; alternatively, the transparent support is a contact lens, which may be corrective or non-corrective.

[0014] Further advantages and features of the device according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0015] Figure 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention; and

[0017] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of the device according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 1 illustrates the device according to the present invention; where 1 designates the transparent support, in this case an eyeglass lens, provided on the outer side with an active coating 101 , which consists of a transparent polymer matrix in which photoluminescent nanocrystals are dispersed, suitable for interacting with incident radiation to stimulate, through the eye, the reaction of the patient's nervous system. Similarly, in Figure 2, 2 indicates a contact lens on which the active coating 102 is arranged on the outward-facing side, which has the same properties as the coating 101 described above.

[0019] Figure 3 schematically illustrates the operating principle of the device according to the present invention; identical parts are designated by the same reference numerals. For ease of explanation, eyeglass lens 1 has been placed on one eye (10) of the visual system, while contact lens 2 has been placed on the other (10'). The light radiation incident on device 1 or 2 passes through the optic nerves 11 , 11', and crosses the optic chiasm 20 before interacting with the hypothalamus 30. The stimulation of the hypothalamus by the emission of photons from the photoluminescent nanoparticles results in the stimulation of the peripheral nervous system and can bring benefits to the patient's posture.

[0020] The active coating of the transparent support can be produced separately and then applied to the support itself, or it can be spread or sprayed onto the surface of the support as a fluid formulation, which will then solidify in situ.

[0021] The photoluminescent nanoparticles suitable for this use are those described in the introduction, i.e., those chosen from: graphene, blue luminescent graphene, cyan luminescent graphene, aqua green luminescent graphene, perovskite coated with oleic acid and oleylamine, carboxylated CdTe, CdS / ZnS functionalized with oleic acid.

[0022] These nanoparticles are present in the active coating at a concentration between 1.0 mg / cm2and 100.0 mg / cm2, capable of emitting photons at the reference wavelength, and with an intensity between 0.1 mW / cm2and 0.5 mW / cm2, and preferably between 0.2 mW / cm2and 0.4 mW / cm2, and in which said reference wavelength is between 280 and 740 nm, and preferably between 350 and 530 nm, when stimulated by at least one infrared, visible, or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation. The device according to the present invention allows the patient's eyes to be used as a communication gateway with their nervous system, so as to stimulate the reaction to the emissions of photoluminescent nanoparticles in broader and more immediate terms.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Photoluminescent device for therapeutic treatment through the eyes, comprising a transparent support with one free side facing the patient's eye and provided on the other side with an active coating comprising at least two quantum dots, i.e., two nanostructures, chosen from: graphene, blue-luminescent graphene, cyan-luminescent graphene, aqua-green-luminescent graphene, Perovskite coated with oleic acid and oleylamine, carboxylated CdTe, CdS / ZnS functionalized with oleic acid.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the active coating is a layer of transparent material in which the photoluminescent nanoparticles are dispersed or applied, and which is in turn applied to a wall of the transparent support.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the coating consists of a solid film that is formed and then applied.

4. Device according to claim 2, wherein the coating consists of a fluid composition, which is spread on the transparent support and subsequently solidifies.

5. Device according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein in the active coating the photoluminescent nanoparticles are present in a concentration of between 1.0 mg / cm2and 100.0 mg / cm2, capable of emitting photons at the reference wavelength, and with an intensity of between 0.1 mW / cm2and 0.5 mW / cm2, and preferably between 0.2 mW / cm2and 0.4 mW / cm26. Device according to claim 5, wherein said reference wavelength is between 280 and 740 nm, and preferably between 350 and 530 nm, when stimulated by at least one infrared, visible, or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation.

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein said transparent support is an eyeglass lens, graduated or ungraduated.Device according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 6, wherein the transparent support is a contact lens, which may be corrective or non-corrective.

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