Ha Eunbe, Kang Hwajeong, Noh Hyeran
Department of Optometry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, 232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea.
Convergence Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, 232 Gongneung-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea.
Biosensors (Basel). 2025 Jan 3;15(1):16. doi: 10.3390/bios15010016.
Ocular cystinosis is a disease in which accumulated cystine crystals cause damage to the eyes, necessitating timely treatment and ongoing monitoring of cystine levels. The current treatment involves frequent administration of cysteamine eye drops, which suffer from low bioavailability and can lead to drug toxicity, making it essential to prescribe an appropriate dosage based on the patient's condition. Additionally, cystine crystal levels are typically assessed subjectively via slit-lamp examination, requiring frequent clinical visits and causing discomfort for the patient. In this study, we propose a theranostic contact lens that simultaneously performs therapy and diagnosis on a single platform utilizing gold nanoparticles (GNPs). The binding interactions between GNPs and cystine were confirmed in solution, and thermodynamic analysis further elucidated the bonding force between the two substances. With a comprehensive understanding of these interactions, we investigated the potential of the theranostic GNP-loaded contact lens (GNP-CL). Upon exposure to various concentrations of cystine, the GNP-CL demonstrated distinct color changes, transitioning from red to blue. This color shift enabled quantitative monitoring of cystine levels. The treatment efficacy was validated by confirming a reduction in cystine concentration following the reaction. This platform has the potential to improve disease management in ocular cystinosis by reducing the reliance on cysteamine and offering an objective self-monitoring tool that does not require specialized equipment.
眼胱氨酸病是一种由于胱氨酸晶体积累而导致眼睛受损的疾病，需要及时治疗并持续监测胱氨酸水平。目前的治疗方法是频繁使用半胱胺眼药水，但这种眼药水生物利用度低，且可能导致药物毒性，因此必须根据患者的病情开出合适的剂量。此外，胱氨酸晶体水平通常通过裂隙灯检查进行主观评估，这需要患者频繁就诊并会给患者带来不适。在本研究中，我们提出了一种治疗诊断一体式隐形眼镜，该隐形眼镜利用金纳米颗粒（GNPs）在单一平台上同时进行治疗和诊断。在溶液中证实了金纳米颗粒与胱氨酸之间的结合相互作用，热力学分析进一步阐明了这两种物质之间的结合力。在全面了解这些相互作用后，我们研究了负载金纳米颗粒的治疗诊断一体式隐形眼镜（GNP-CL）的潜力。在接触不同浓度的胱氨酸后，GNP-CL呈现出明显的颜色变化，从红色变为蓝色。这种颜色变化能够对胱氨酸水平进行定量监测。通过确认反应后胱氨酸浓度的降低，验证了治疗效果。该平台有可能通过减少对半胱胺的依赖，并提供一种无需专门设备的客观自我监测工具，来改善眼胱氨酸病的疾病管理。
