Development of antibacterial nano-coated contact lenses maintains antibacterial performance of more than 99% for 9 weeks
Oct 22, 2024
An antibacterial nano-coating technology has been developed to help keep contact lenses safer and longer.
Professor Ji Yong-woo and Dr. Moon Chae-eun's research team at Yonsei University School of Medicine's Yongin Severance Hospital (Hospital Director Kim Eun-kyung) recently developed transparent nano-coating technology applied to contact lens surfaces and proved improved antibacterial performance, durability and non-toxicity.
The study was conducted jointly by Professor Lim Sung-gap of the Department of Biochemical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), researchers Park Na-hyun and Song Yoon-sung of the functional thin film research lab, and Dr. Lee Kyung-kyun of the Nano General Technology Institute.
Wearing contact lenses for a long time creates an environment where bacteria can easily attach to the surface of the lens and reproduce. This greatly increases the risk of infection, such as bacterial keratitis, and can lead to permanent loss of vision.
The research team wanted to develop a new transparent nano-coating technology to overcome the limitations of existing antimicrobial coating techniques, in which antimicrobial performance deteriorates over time or the coating itself becomes toxic.
In the study, antibacterial and non-toxic copolymer films with long-term chemical stability and mechanical durability were produced and applied directly to contact lens surfaces. In this process, an initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) was used to solve the non-uniform coating problem of the conventional liquid coating method and to effectively maintain the transparency of the contact lens.
The antimicrobial performance was then tested against the major causative agents of bacterial keratitis, including S.aureus, methicillin-resistant S.aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The research team examined whether antibacterial performance was maintained for 9 weeks and verified physical durability.
As a result of the study, the transparent nano-coating showed more than 99% antibacterial performance and maintained it for 9 weeks. The coating did not lose its antimicrobial performance after repeated washing, nor did it affect the transparency and vision correction function of the contact lenses. In addition, it was also confirmed that it is non-toxic, which does not harm eye health.
This study is meaningful in that it has overcome the limitations of existing coating technologies that degrade antibacterial performance when washing. In particular, it is expected to demonstrate its antimicrobial performance against antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and play an important role in preventing fatal diseases such as bacterial keratitis.
Professor Ji Yong-woo said, "Through this study, we have made a technological leap forward that can greatly improve the safety of contact lens users. We expect that this technology can be extended to medical devices or fields other than contact lenses in the future, and we plan to conduct related research."
The results of the study were published in the international renowned journal 'Small(IF 13.0)' in the field of nanotechnology.
On the other hand, this study was conducted with the support of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Semiconductor Process-based Nano Medical Device Development Project), the Ministry of Science and ICT (Deep Science Startup Promotion Project), and the Korea Research Foundation.
Professor Ji Yong-woo and Dr. Moon Chae-eun's research team at Yonsei University School of Medicine's Yongin Severance Hospital (Hospital Director Kim Eun-kyung) recently developed transparent nano-coating technology applied to contact lens surfaces and proved improved antibacterial performance, durability and non-toxicity.
The study was conducted jointly by Professor Lim Sung-gap of the Department of Biochemical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), researchers Park Na-hyun and Song Yoon-sung of the functional thin film research lab, and Dr. Lee Kyung-kyun of the Nano General Technology Institute.
Wearing contact lenses for a long time creates an environment where bacteria can easily attach to the surface of the lens and reproduce. This greatly increases the risk of infection, such as bacterial keratitis, and can lead to permanent loss of vision.
The research team wanted to develop a new transparent nano-coating technology to overcome the limitations of existing antimicrobial coating techniques, in which antimicrobial performance deteriorates over time or the coating itself becomes toxic.
In the study, antibacterial and non-toxic copolymer films with long-term chemical stability and mechanical durability were produced and applied directly to contact lens surfaces. In this process, an initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) was used to solve the non-uniform coating problem of the conventional liquid coating method and to effectively maintain the transparency of the contact lens.
The antimicrobial performance was then tested against the major causative agents of bacterial keratitis, including S.aureus, methicillin-resistant S.aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The research team examined whether antibacterial performance was maintained for 9 weeks and verified physical durability.
As a result of the study, the transparent nano-coating showed more than 99% antibacterial performance and maintained it for 9 weeks. The coating did not lose its antimicrobial performance after repeated washing, nor did it affect the transparency and vision correction function of the contact lenses. In addition, it was also confirmed that it is non-toxic, which does not harm eye health.
This study is meaningful in that it has overcome the limitations of existing coating technologies that degrade antibacterial performance when washing. In particular, it is expected to demonstrate its antimicrobial performance against antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and play an important role in preventing fatal diseases such as bacterial keratitis.
Professor Ji Yong-woo said, "Through this study, we have made a technological leap forward that can greatly improve the safety of contact lens users. We expect that this technology can be extended to medical devices or fields other than contact lenses in the future, and we plan to conduct related research."
The results of the study were published in the international renowned journal 'Small(IF 13.0)' in the field of nanotechnology.
On the other hand, this study was conducted with the support of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Semiconductor Process-based Nano Medical Device Development Project), the Ministry of Science and ICT (Deep Science Startup Promotion Project), and the Korea Research Foundation.
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