A synthetic eye platform for testing contact lenses with integrated electronic biosensors

Building an interface between a nano-scale system and the larger-scale world is of utmost importance in implementing and testing the system utility. By taking advantage of the enzyme function at the nano-scale, our group is developing functional contact lenses integrating electronic biosensors that can detect and report the level of glucose on the surface of the eye. In order to verify the functionality of the contact lenses we have developed a physiologically accurate mechanical model of a human eye which allows sensor characterization under thin-film conditions, in a controlled chemical environment. The polymer eye model replicates the geometry of an eye, the blinking motion of an eyelid, as well as the tear fluid input and output microchannels. Liquid used in the experiments was prepared to closely mimic the chemical and mechanical properties of biological tear fluid.