MSGID: 1:317/3 64ae2c86   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Breaking into tears with microrheology to design custom eye drops    
    New method reveals intricate behaviors of micron-sized particles in real,   
   artificial tears    
      
     Date:   
         July 11, 2023   
     Source:   
         American Institute of Physics   
     Summary:   
         In Physics of Fluids, Vega et al. researched human tears at the   
         micron level to reveal new ways of customizing artificial tears   
         to address individual symptoms of dry eye disease. The detailed   
         insights they gained about the composition and behavior of tears   
         could also apply to the study of ocular pathogens as well as other   
         biological fluids. The authors collected healthy human tears and   
         tested 10 different formulations of artificial tears and applied   
         microrheology methods using dynamic light scattering.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
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   Compared to artificial tears, or eye drops, human tears are significantly   
   more complex liquids, with a wide range of components including lipids,   
   carbohydrates, proteins, water, and salt. It is this complex mixture   
   that gives tears the perfect thickness and ability to moisturize the eye,   
   a design that is hard to replicate with fewer ingredients.   
      
   In Physics of Fluids, from AIP Publishing, Vega et al. researched human   
   tears at the micron level to reveal new ways of customizing artificial   
   tears to address individual symptoms of dry eye disease. The detailed   
   insights they gained about the composition and behavior of tears could   
   also apply to the study of ocular pathogens, as well as other biological   
   fluids.   
      
   "Tailoring formulations and characteristics to meet individual   
   requirements are key considerations in achieving efficacy," author   
   Juan F. Vega said. "The ultimate goal is to provide an effective and   
   personalized solutionthat alleviates dry eye syndrome."  The authors   
   collected healthy human tears and tested 10 different formulations   
   of artificial tears, probing these liquids to understand properties   
   such as viscosity (flow), elasticity and stability and the effects of   
   different concentrations of components in the liquids. They also tested   
   the behavior of the liquids under stress, such as when the eye blinks.   
      
   To study the tiny volumes of liquid in tears, the authors applied   
   microrheology methods, which monitor the movement of micron-sized   
   particles in liquids, using a technique that measures how light reflects   
   off particles suspended in liquid to reveal how the liquid behaves in   
   different scenarios, known as dynamic light scattering, or DLS.   
      
   The authors' unique application of these methods to the study of tears   
   has implications both for the fundamental knowledge of microbiological   
   fluids and for the design of functional materials with specific desired   
   properties, Vega said.   
      
   "The goal of investigating these characteristics is to understand the   
   behavior of the fluid and gain insights into its performance and potential   
   applications -- for example, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or food -- where   
   understanding the viscoelastic properties helps in formulating products   
   with desirable textures, stability, and flow behavior," Vega said.   
      
   The authors plan to continue to explore more complex formulations of   
   artificial tears and extend their work to the study of human tears with   
   different pathologies.   
      
   "Through careful tuning, artificial tears can be tailored to meet specific   
   needs, such as stability, lubrication, and moisturization, and mimicking   
   natural tears," Vega said. "Ultimately, this work aims to enhance the   
   comfort and well-being of individuals experiencing dry eye symptoms."   
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   Source: Materials provided by American_Institute_of_Physics. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Juan F. Vega, Mercedes Ferna'ndez, Andre's Cardil, Itxaso Calafel,   
      Itziar   
         Marti'nez-Soroa, Ane Pe'rez Sarriegui, Arantxa Acera. Shedding   
         light on the viscoelastic behavior of artificial and human tears:   
         A microrheological approach. Physics of Fluids, 2023; 35 (7) DOI:   
         10.1063/ 5.0152482   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230711133108.htm   
      
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