Hydrogel Contact Lens Phosphatidylcholine Nanoparticle Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial tear compositions provide only temporary relief for dry eye disease, requiring frequent application and leading to patient compliance issues due to their cumbersome and costly nature, as they fail to provide sustained ocular hydration and protection against desiccation.
Innovation Solution
A method for manufacturing a hydrogel contact lens loaded with phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles through an autoclaving process without additional manufacturing steps or organic solvent swelling, using a packaging solution with a specific pH and osmolality to release phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles for extended ocular hydration and protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If artificial tear compositions are applied frequently to maintain ocular hydration, then the effectiveness of dry eye treatment is improved, but the burden on patients increases and compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact lens is pre-loaded with phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles during manufacturing through autoclaving in a packaging solution. This preliminary action allows the lens to release lipid nanoparticles continuously during wear, providing sustained ocular hydration without requiring frequent patient applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact lens serves itself by continuously releasing phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles from its interior to the ocular surface during wear. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for repeated manual application by the patient, thereby improving compliance while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
2Duration of action of moving object
If phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles are loaded into hydrogel contact lens during autoclaving, then sustained ocular hydration is achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the nanoparticle loading step with the existing autoclaving sterilization process. By incorporating phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles into the packaging solution used during autoclaving, the process simultaneously achieves both sterilization and nanoparticle loading, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing steps and reducing overall process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The packaging solution serves multiple functions: it acts as the sterilization medium during autoclaving, the nanoparticle delivery vehicle, and the loading medium for phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles. This multi-functionality simplifies the manufacturing process by consolidating multiple operations into a single autoclaving step.
3Quantity of substance
If organic solvents are used to swell hydrogel contact lens for nanoparticle loading, then nanoparticle incorporation is improved, but the contact lens integrity and safety are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an aqueous packaging solution with specific pH (6.0-8.0) and osmolality (200-450 mOsm/kg) as an intermediary medium to load phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles into the hydrogel contact lens during autoclaving. This aqueous environment avoids the use of organic solvents, thereby maintaining contact lens integrity and safety while still achieving effective nanoparticle incorporation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hydrogel contact lens effectively releases phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles, providing prolonged ocular hydration and protection against desiccation, reducing the need for frequent applications and improving patient compliance by maintaining a stable tear film and enhancing ocular surface health.
Implementation Method 1
The hydrogel contact lens effectively releases phosphatidylcholine nanoparticles
Implementation Method 2
autoclaving the hydrogel contact lens in the packaging solution to load the phosphatidylcholine nanoparticle into the hydrogel contact lens
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method to load a water insoluble phospholipid as nanoparticles to load into a hydrogel contact lens in autoclaving process during the hydrogel contact lens manufacturing process without an extra manufacturing step and without swelling the hydrogel contact lens with an organic solvent. The phospholipid nanoparticles loaded in hydrogel contact lens subsequently releases to the eye upon wearing.