Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Biomaterials are materials that come into close contact*with living biological cells or fluids. Some of the best examples of*biomaterials include heart valves, blood vessels, artificial joint*replacements, breast implants, intraocular lens implants (for use following*cataract surgery), and contact lenses, of which the latter two are among the*most widely used. Over 140 million people worldwide wear contact lenses, of*which 90% use soft, hydrogel lenses, which are typically replaced after being*used for 1 day to 1 month. In Canada alone, the 3 million wearers of*lenses use approximately 30 million new soft lenses annually. These*materials come into direct contact with the tear film on the surface of the*eye, which is a highly complex fluid containing a wide variety of proteins,*oils, metabolites and electrolytes. Once exposed to the tear film, these*contact lens materials take up various components from it, some of which may*induce inflammatory responses. *This grant will continue my work in developing an*enhanced understanding of the interactions that occur between soft lens*materials with the tear film and outer surface of the eye. It will use a wide variety*of cutting-edge laboratory techniques, with a specific emphasis of trying to*better understand contact lens-induced inflammation. *Two specific programs of work will be undertaken:*a) *To develop a better understanding of the way*that certain pro-inflammatory substances in the tear film result in*inflammation. Once this has been determined then we will develop new materials*that resist the uptake of these components.*b) *To develop novel materials that deliver*anti-inflammatory substances to the surface of the eye. These will include examination*of the potential for substances shown to be beneficial when ingested, such as vitamin*C, resveratrol (found in red wine), components in green tea and omega 3 essential*fatty acids.*Obtaining a greater understanding of the potential for contact*lens materials to cause and modify ocular surface inflammation will help with*the development of next generation contact lens materials and other ocular*biomaterials. The results will provide excellent training for Canadian students*in an area that provides great potential for employment, and will lead to*better contact lens materials for the 3 million Canadians who wear contacts.*