Fabrication of a cost-effective microfluidic eye model for high throughput screening and testing of ophthalmic materials and drugs

Toxicity testing of ophthalmic products is an important step in developing new eye products. Microfluidic devices, such as lab-on-a-chip, are an effective way to evaluate the toxicity of new products prior to animal testing. However, the current methods to create these microfluidic chips are too time-consuming and expensive for high-throughput screening. The objective of this project is to develop a cost-effective and rapid method to fabricate microfluidic chips with human corneal cells. This device will be used to measure a variety of tests, such as the toxicity of preservatives and drugs released from contact lenses. The development of this microfluidic eye model will be immensely useful for screening the toxicity of ophthalmic products.

Faculty Supervisor:

Lyndon Jones

Student:

Partner:

OcuBlink

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: