A smart intraocular lens that can be inserted into the eye to diagnose Alzheimer's has been developed for the first time in Korea.
The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), an institute under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and ICT, through joint research with Yonsei University, Yonsei University College of Medicine Yongin Severance Hospital, and Gangnam Severance Hospital, has succeeded in developing an intraocular implant that can diagnose Alzheimer's, a degenerative brain disease, at its early stages.
The results of this research study were published in Bioactive Materials, a well-known journal in the field of biomaterials.
Principal Researcher JaeJong Lee of the KIMM Department of Nano Manufacturing Technology, Yonsei University Professor Won-gun Koh, Severance Hospital Ophthalmology Professors Hyung Keun Lee and Professor Yong-woo Ji focused on the characteristics of the eye, which is directly connected to the brain, and detected various biomarkers through trilateral cooperation among the KIMM, Yonsei University, and Severance Hospital.
Through their research efforts, they developed an implantable biosensing system by mounting a bioresponsive hydrogel-based sensing module capable of detecting various biomarkers on an intraocular lens to express a signal in a moiré pattern.
Biomarker is an indicator that can detect changes in the body using proteins, DNA, etc.
Principal Researchers JaeJong Lee and Geehong Kim of the KIMM Department of Nano Manufacturing Technology stated that the development of this technology is significant in that it can reduce social costs by diagnosing various neurological diseases, including dementia, which is one of the most common of such diseases that lead to social issues.
They added that KIMM will continue to promote further research on this technology until it can be made available for commercial use.
Meanwhile, this research study was carried out as part of the development of free-formed surface nano-manufacturing processes and systems and applications of non-blood disease monitoring devices under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Nano Material Technology Development Project.
