The University of Waterloo

Other

Lyndon William James Jones

Frank Gu

Shengyan Liu

Frank Xiaofei Gu

Heather Sheardown

Carolyn Liqing Ren

Ian Herrick

Lina Liu

Wasim Kapadia

Chau-Minh Phan

Shengyan (Sandy) Liu

Lacey A Haines

Laura Anne Wells

Pei Zhao

Ning Qin

Shengyan (sandy) Liu

A microfluidic viscometer measures the viscosity of a microliter-volume fluid sample using a microfluidic chip having a microchannel with a high aspect ratio (˜10), allowing the microflow therein to be approximated as a rectangular slit flow. The microfluidic chip is fabricated by stacking rigid sheet materials that can be laser cut to specified shapes and sizes. The microchannel, rendered smooth and hydrophobic by a repellant coating, provides a straight flow path for the sample to approach flow equilibrium as it moves through. By applying corrections related to the visual bias from the camera and the capillary pressure difference at the air-liquid interface, the viscosity of the fluid sample can be calculated based on differential pressure data, sample length, velocity, volumetric flow rate, and contact angle from captured video, and the channel dimension, given that the sample has reached a flow equilibrium condition.

Microfluidic viscometer for measuring the viscosity of microliter-volume liquid samples

The present disclosure relates generally to a mucoadhesive nanoparticle delivery system. The nanoparticles are formed from amphiphilic macromolecules conjugated to a mucosal targeting moiety in such a manner that the surface of the nanoparticle is coated with the targeting moiety. The surface density of the targeting moiety can be tuned for adjustable targeting of the nanoparticles to a mucosal site without substantially compromising the stability of the particles. The particles were found to have high loading efficiency and sustained release properties at the mucosal site. The present disclosure also relates to polymers and macromolecules useful in the preparation of the mucoadhesive nanoparticles, as well as compositions, methods, commercial packages, kits and uses related thereto.

Mucoadhesive nanoparticle delivery system

Disclosed is a mucoadhesive nanoparticle delivery system for delivering an immunosuppressant, such as cyclosporine A, to a mucosal site for treatment of a disease or condition involving inflammation or excess immune activity. The system comprises nanoparticles formed from a plurality of linear amphiphilic block copolymers, each having a hydrophobic block comprising polylactide (PLA) and a hydrophilic block comprising dextran. The nanoparticles are surface-functionalized with a mucosal targeting moiety, such as a phenylboronic acid derivative, for targeted delivery and enhanced retention at the mucosal site. Pharmaceutical compositions, methods, and uses thereof comprising the mucoadhesive nanoparticle delivery system are disclosed. The compositions can be administered in an effective amount for treating the disease or condition while substantially preserving or restoring the function and/or integrity of the mucosal lining. The composition may be formulated as an aqueous suspension for administration to an anterior surface of the eye in the treatment of dry eye syndrome.

Mucoadhesive nanoparticle composition comprising immunosuppresant and methods of use thereof

A used contact lens is placed in a contact lens receptacle. An aqueous composition is added to the contact lens receptacle, the aqueous composition capable of changing from a first appearance to a second appearance in response to an interaction with the used contact lens after a predetermined period of time.

Method and system for color changing contact lens solution

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Waterloo, Canada

Lyndon William James Jones