Therapeutic Contact Lenses for Ocular Drug Delivery

Ocular diseases are often difficult to treat due to the physiological properties of the eye. One solution to this problem is the development of therapeutic contact lenses which deliver drugs to the surface of the eye. Examining the interaction between the drug and its target binding site reveals the types of functionalities which are favorable for noncovalent bonding with the drug. Monomers with similar functionalities can be selected for incorporation into the hydrogel. Monomers and drug molecules are allowed to complex prior to polymerization. The resulting polymeric network contains pockets with affinity for the drug. This offers increased loading of drug into the contact lens, and results in a slow, steady release which can be tailored and controlled for an extended period.