Mathematical Sciences Department Colloquium
Friday, August 21
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Stratton Hall 202
Rayanne A. Luke, Department of Mathematical Sciences, George Mason University
Title: Mathematical Models of Contact Lens Drug Delivery: Blinking and Lens Design
Abstract: Drug-eluting contact lenses are an ophthalmic drug delivery alternative to eye drops. Such lenses can significantly increase drug residence time and therefore effectiveness. We design models of contact lens drug delivery to align with experimental systems and consider blinking and lens design. Our approach couples partial differential equations for linear diffusion of drug inside the contact lens with compartment models for the pre- and post-lens tear films and the eyelid region. To study blinking, we model the effect of a blink on the pre- and post-lens tear film drug concentrations, investigating mechanisms such as partial or full sweep out of drug by the eyelid, and squeezing or sliding of the lens. The most likely scenario is identified by comparing to model eye data. To study lens design, we model drug-polymer films encapsulated in hydrogel lenses, where the drug-laden region appears as an annulus in a top-down view. We investigate the dependence of drug release time on lens material and geometric properties and identify drug delivery transport mechanisms by comparing to in vivo data. In both cases, we recover drug cumulative release profiles from experimental systems, and determine the effects of blinking and lens design properties on cumulative release. This can inform our understanding of the mechanics of contact lens drug delivery and predict targeted tissue transport of drug.