Project Info

3D Printing for Contact Lens Manufacturing

This project focuses on using 3D printing to design contact lens molds for many different applications including drug delivery, specifically, designing lenses for conducting in vivo studies in monkeys. The project is interesting because it utilizes many different aspects of engineering including 3D printing, lens manufacturing, drug delivery, and in vivo studies. It is also interesting because animal trials will explore delivery of novel molecules to eyes via contact lenses. For example, we are developing lenses loaded with cyclosporin for minimizing rejection of corneal implants. If successful, this could have a major societal impact. This project is also interesting because it helps students fundamentals of drug transport in contact lenses including development of mathematical models which will reinforce the concepts they have learned in their transport class. Similarly, contact lens manufacturing requires radical polymerization which is a topic that they had learned in their organic chemistry classes. So this project will help students understand concepts they have already been exposed to while conducting cutting-edge research.

More Information

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142961208000574

https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2124089

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142961208008041

Grand Engineering Challenge: Engineer better medicines

Student Preparation

Qualifications

Basic Lab experience and some background spectroscopy knowledge.

Time Commitment

40 hours/month

Skills/Techniques Gained

The student will be able to further their knowledge of transport phenomena as well as gain background in the field of biomedical engineering and its applications. In addition, the use of UV spectroscopy and 3D printing will teach the students specific techniques of how to analyze the properties of certain molecules as well as manufacturing parts to meet a specific demand. The concept of drug delivery is critical to the project and will enhance the students understanding of current problems and solution in the scope of the biomedical engineering field.

Mentoring Plan

I will meet with the student once a week for one hour to discuss progress and potential implications of the research as well as checking up on the lab once a week to refine their techniques and understanding of drug delivery via contact lenses. Overall, the student will be able to develop independent and critical thinking relating to drug delivery and explore concepts similar to this in the future.