Chonnam National University Develops 'New Technology' to Prevent Dry Eye Syndrome

Professor Yoon Kyung-chul's Research Team Selected for the '2020 Bio Industry Core Development Project'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] As the number of patients with dry eye syndrome is increasing by 20% annually due to excessive smartphone use, a new technology to deliver drugs using contact lenses is set to be developed.

Chonnam National University announced on the 25th that Professor Yoon Kyungcheol's team (Ophthalmology) has been selected for the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology's '2020 Core Bio Industry Development Project.'

Professor Yoon's research team will receive a total of 3.6 billion KRW in funding, including 2.6 billion KRW from the government and 1 billion KRW from private investment, over the next five years to develop a high-efficiency drug delivery technology using contact lenses.

The project, titled 'Development of pH-responsive drug delivery contact lenses for improving dry eye syndrome,' involves loading contact lenses with drugs that can improve dry eye symptoms and maintaining an effective concentration for a long time when worn on the eye.

Existing eye drops have low drug permeability and short retention time, while contact lenses have had issues with low sustained drug release and stability problems during distribution.

Using Professor Yoon's technology, the loaded drugs do not dissipate in a pH 5.5 preservative solution, and drug release begins and is continuously maintained when the lens reaches pH 7.4 after being worn on the eye.

The technology development is led by Professor Yoon as the principal investigator. Chosun University (Professor Kim Hojung, Department of Chemistry) is responsible for developing drug delivery materials, Chonnam Biotech Industry Promotion Agency's Nanobio Research Center (Team Leader Moon Myungjae) handles material and product characterization, and WINS Co., Ltd. is in charge of prototype development. Huons Co., Ltd. will manage regulatory approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and commercialization.

Professor Yoon Kyungcheol stated, "The market size for this treatment is estimated at 300 billion KRW domestically and 6 trillion KRW globally. If commercialized, it will create local jobs and generate economic benefits exceeding 60 billion KRW annually both domestically and overseas."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.