據(jù)英國《衛(wèi)報(bào)》5月17日?qǐng)?bào)道，中國科學(xué)家研發(fā)了一種能無線感知眼壓并能按需遞送青光眼藥物的隱形眼鏡。這種柔性隱形眼鏡無需電池，設(shè)計(jì)緊湊，或成為很有前景的青光眼治療系統(tǒng)。相關(guān)成果近日發(fā)表于《自然通訊》。

A contact lens that can release a drug if it detects high pressure within the eye has been created by scientists who say it could help treat glaucoma.
科學(xué)家發(fā)明了一種隱形眼鏡，當(dāng)它檢測(cè)到眼壓升高時(shí)，就會(huì)釋放藥物?？茖W(xué)家宣稱這種隱性眼鏡可輔助治療青光眼。

Glaucoma is an eye disease that involves damage to the optic nerve, and can lead to blindness if not treated.
青光眼是一種損害視神經(jīng)的眼病，如不治療可能導(dǎo)致失明。

According to the charity Glaucoma UK, the most common form of the disease, known as primary open angle glaucoma, is thought to affect almost 10% of people older than 75. This form is generally caused by increased pressure within the eye, usually as a result of a buildup of fluid.
據(jù)英國青光眼慈善機(jī)構(gòu)稱，原發(fā)性開角型青光眼是最常見的一種青光眼疾病，近10%的75歲以上人群患有該眼病。原發(fā)性開角型青光眼通常是由眼內(nèi)壓力增加引起的。眼壓升高通常是由液體積聚造成的。

Researchers in China revealed they have developed a contact lens that can sense an increase in pressure within the eye and release an anti-glaucoma drug should the pressure exceed a certain level.
中國科研人員表示，他們已經(jīng)研制出一種隱形眼鏡，可以感知眼壓的升高，并在壓力超過一定水平時(shí)釋放抗青光眼藥物。

Writing in the journal Nature Communications, the team describe how they created the device using an upper and lower lens, with a snowflake-shaped pressure sensor and wireless power transfer device sandwiched between them around the rim of the lenses.
該團(tuán)隊(duì)在《自然通訊》雜志上發(fā)表文章，描述了他們?nèi)绾卫蒙舷聝蓧K鏡片創(chuàng)造出這個(gè)設(shè)備的，在兩塊鏡片之間的邊緣夾著雪花狀壓力傳感器和無線電力傳輸裝置。

When the pressure inside the eye increases, the gap between the upper and lower lenses decreases. This is detected by the pressure sensor by means of a cantilever. The sensor then sends a signal to the wireless system which subsequently triggers the release of an anti-glaucoma drug, from a hydrogel attached to an electrode, and enables it to cross the cornea of the eye. The drug, brimonidine, acts to reduce the pressure within the eye.
當(dāng)眼內(nèi)壓力增加時(shí)，上下鏡片之間的間隙就會(huì)減少。壓力傳感器通過一個(gè)懸臂檢測(cè)到這一點(diǎn)。然后，該傳感器向無線系統(tǒng)發(fā)送信號(hào)，隨后觸發(fā)抗青光眼藥物的釋放，并使其穿過眼角膜。該藥物來自連接到電極的水凝膠，名為溴硝柳胺，可以降低眼壓。

The study reveals that the contact lenses have so far been tested on pigs’ eyes and on the eyes of living rabbits – albeit with smaller-sized lenses – although trials have yet to be carried out in humans.
這項(xiàng)研究表明，盡管隱形眼鏡的尺寸較小，但目前為止已經(jīng)在豬的眼睛和活兔子的眼睛上進(jìn)行了測(cè)試，尚未進(jìn)行人體試驗(yàn)。

The researchers note the lenses are not only soft and minimally invasive but are also battery-free, adding that the approach could be expanded to help tackle other eye diseases.
研究人員指出，這種鏡片不僅柔軟、無創(chuàng)，而且無需電池，這種方法可以擴(kuò)展到輔助治療其他眼部疾病。

Prof Zubair Ahmed from the Institute of Inflammation and Ageing at the University of Birmingham, who was not involved in the work, said the research was potentially very exciting, adding that a rise in pressure within the eye was a significant problem for most people with glaucoma.
伯明翰大學(xué)炎癥與衰老研究所的祖拜爾·阿赫默德教授沒有參與這項(xiàng)研究，他稱這項(xiàng)研究成果激動(dòng)人心，眼壓升高對(duì)大多數(shù)青光眼患者來說是一個(gè)嚴(yán)重問題。

“The materials required to create such contact lenses are inexpensive and soon could be mass-produced,” he added.
阿赫默德還稱：“制造這種隱形眼鏡所需的材料價(jià)格低廉，很快就能大規(guī)模生產(chǎn)?！?/p>

來源：衛(wèi)報(bào)
編輯：董靜