UC Irvine

Corneal disease is the second most prevalent cause of blindness in the world. Keratoplasty or corneal transplant is available as the last treatment resort and extended drug delivery following the procedure are preferred to be delivered by a drug eluting contact lens. Patients using either device in the wounded eye are prone to microbial infection that could complicate the outcome of the sight recovery. Thus, nanotopography, a physical surface modification studied to have potential antimicrobial effect and wound healing promotion, is considered to be integrated in novel design of both devices. Due to the spherical nature of the eye, conventional nanotechnology could not produce such surface, or requires heavy cost and resources.

In this thesis, I : 1) improve a nanopatterning technique for spherical surface and apply it on a novel cornea device, 2) validate its biological responses in vivo, 3) apply the patterning technique for a contact lens design with a new class of material, 4) analyze the economic and commercial benefits of both device in current ophthalmic market. This thesis consists universal protocol for adaptive patterning methods on various material platform and outline validation method for future regulatory works. This thesis shall set the foundation for a medical device startups that could restore sights for millions around the world.