A Microchambers Containing Contact Lens for the Noninvasive Detection of Tear Exosomes

• Published in: Advanced functional materials Vol. 32; no. 44
• Main Authors: Li, Shaopei, Zhu, Yangzhi, Haghniaz, Reihaneh, Kawakita, Satoru, Guan, Shenghan, Chen, Jianjun, Li, Zijie, Mandal, Kalpana, Bahari, Jamal, Shah, Shilp, Guo, Juchen, Kang, Heemin, Sun, Wujin, Kim, Han‐Jun, Jucaud, Vadim, Dokmeci, Mehmet R., Kollbaum, Pete, Lee, Chi Hwan, Khademhosseini, Ali
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2022
• Subjects: Antibodies; Biocompatibility; Biomarkers; biosensors; Cancer; cancer diagnosis; Colorimetry; Contact lenses; Diagnosis; exosomes; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Nanoparticles; Optical properties; Polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate; Ribonucleic acid; RNA; Serum albumin; wearables
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202206620

Exosomes, a form of small extracellular vesicles, play a crucial role in the metastasis of cancers and thus are investigated as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. However, conventional detection methods like immune‐based assay and microRNA analyses are expensive and require tedious pretreatments and lengthy analysis time. Since exosomes related to cancers are reported to exist in tears, a poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) contact lens embedded with antibody‐conjugated signaling microchambers (ACSM‐PCL) capable of detecting tear exosomes is reported. The ACSM‐PCL exhibits high optical transparency and mechanical properties, along with extraordinary biocompatibility and good sensitivity to exosomes. A gold nanoparticle colorimetric assay is employed to visualize captured exosomes. The ACSM‐PCL can detect exosomes in the pH range of 6.5–7.4 (similar to the human tear pH) and have a strong recovery yield in bovine serum albumin solutions. In particular, the ACSM‐PCL can detect exosomes in various solutions, including regular buffer, cell culture media from various cell lines, and human tears. Finally, the ACSM‐PCL can differentiate expression of exosome surface proteins hypothesized as cancer biomarkers. With these encouraging results, this ACSM‐PCL is promised to be the next generation smart contact lens as an easy‐to‐use, rapid, noninvasive monitoring platform of cancer pre‐screening and supportive diagnosis. Tear exosomes are investigated as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. Here, a soft and transparent poly (2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) contact lens embedded with antibody‐conjugated signaling microchambers (ACSM‐PCL) capable of the capture and detection of tear exosomes is reported. The ACSM‐PCL is demonstrated to be an easy‐to‐use, rapid, sensitive, noninvasive monitoring platform for effective exosome monitoring.