Pichia Extract Microemulsion for Dry Eye Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for dry eye, such as hyaluronic acid eyedrops, have a short residence time on the cornea, requiring frequent application and not effectively addressing decreased production or release of hyaluronic acid and mucin, which are crucial for maintaining ocular surface health.
Innovation Solution
Microemulsion compositions containing extracts from the genus Pichia, which induce, promote, and improve the production, release, and excretion of hyaluronic acid and mucin from the cornea, providing sustained relief and increased concentrations of MUC5AC and hyaluronic acid in tears.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If hyaluronic acid eyedrops are used to treat dry eye, then dry eye symptoms are temporarily relieved, but the residence time on the cornea is short requiring frequent application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of hyaluronic acid by forming a complex with chitosan, which alters its residence time on the cornea from 2-3 hours to significantly longer duration, reducing application frequency from 5-10 times daily to fewer applications
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material consisting of hyaluronic acid complexed with chitosan. This composite formulation combines the moisturizing properties of hyaluronic acid with the adhesion-enhancing properties of chitosan, achieving extended residence time on the ocular surface
2Reliability
If hyaluronic acid eyedrops are applied frequently, then dry eye symptoms are managed, but patient convenience is reduced and compliance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By modifying the residence time parameter through chitosan complexation, the treatment maintains reliable symptom management while reducing application frequency to a more convenient schedule, thereby improving patient compliance and ease of use
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional eyedrops are used, then tear film instability is temporarily improved, but they do not effectively address decreased production of hyaluronic acid and mucin
Solution Approach 1:
The chitosan-hyaluronic acid complex serves a dual function: it provides immediate tear film stabilization while simultaneously stimulating the corneal epithelial cells to increase their own production of hyaluronic acid and mucin, enabling the eye to self-repair and maintain long-term tear film stability
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 Pichia extracts in microemulsion compositions effectively increase MUC5AC and hyaluronic acid levels in tears, providing prolonged relief from dry eye symptoms and improving ocular surface health by enhancing mucin and hyaluronic acid production and release.
Implementation Method 1
compositions comprising one or more compounds and/or extracts which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of mucin from and/or in the cornea
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to compositions comprising one or more compounds and/or extracts which induce, promote and/or improve production/release/delivery/excretion of hyaluronic acid and/or mucin from and/or in the cornea, and methods of using the compositions to treat the eye.