University of Massachusetts

Murugappan Muthukumar

Benjamin Mohr

Deniz Elizabeth Civay

Zhaoyang Ou

Described herein are methods of inhibiting or reversing the progression of cataract formation or presbyopia in an eye by administering a bifunctional molecule comprising a substituted or unsubstituted amine, succinimide, carboxylic acid, isocyanate, isothiocyanate, sulfonyl chloride, aldehyde, carbodiimide, acyl azide, anhydride, fluorobenzene, carbonate, N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, imidoester, epoxide or fluorophenyl ester covalently linked to a molecular bristle. Both presbyopia and cataracts are caused by aggregation of the soluble crystalline lens proteins called the crystallins.

Methods of inhibiting cataracts and presbyopia

Described herein are methods of inhibiting or reversing the progression of cataract formation or presbyopia in an eye by administering a &#x3b3;-crystallin charge masking agent. Both presbyopia and cataracts are caused by aggregation of the soluble crystalline lens proteins called the crystallins.

Described herein are methods of inhibiting or reversing the progression of presbyopia in an eye by administering a &#x3b2;-crystallin electrostatic interaction inhibitor. Presbyopia is caused by aggregation of the soluble crystalline lens proteins called the crystallins, particularly &#x3b2;-crystallin. It has been found that the aggregation of &#x3b2;-crystallin is an electrostatic phenomenon and that electrostatic interaction inhibitors can be employed to prevent the formation of &#x3b2;-crystallin aggregates as well as to deaggregate already formed aggregates.

Methods of inhibiting presbyopia

Described herein are methods of inhibiting or reversing the progression of cataract formation or presbyopia in an eye by administering a &#x3b2;-crystallin electrostatic interaction inhibitor. Both presbyopia and cataracts are caused by aggregation of the soluble crystalline lens proteins called the crystallins, particularly &#x3b2;-crystallin. It has been found that the aggregation of &#x3b2;-crystallin is an electrostatic phenomenon and that electrostatic interaction inhibitors can be employed to prevent the formation of &#x3b2;-crystallin aggregates as well as to deaggregate already formed aggregates.

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Amherst, MA, United States of America

Murugappan Muthukumar