Improving Stability of Tear Film Lipid Layer via Concerted Action of Two Drug Molecules: A Biophysical View

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Petar Eftimov¹  Lukasz Cwiklik²  Agnieszka Olżyńska²  Adéla Melcrová²  Jean-Sebastien Garrigue³  Philippe Daull³  GeorgiAs. Georgiev⁴ 

[1] Department of Cytology and Embryology, Faculty of Biology, University of Sofia, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria;J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 18223 Prague, Czech Republic;SANTEN SAS, Novagali Innovation Center, 1, rue Pierre Fontaine, Bâtiment Genavenir IV, CEDEX, F-91458 Evry, France;iBB—Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Complexo Interdisciplinar, IST, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-004 Lisbon, Portugal;

关键词: tear film;    meibum;    tear film lipid layer;    dilatation rheology;    fluorescence microscopy;    molecular dynamics;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms21249490

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The tear film at the ocular surface is covered by a thin layer of lipids. This oily phase stabilizes the film by decreasing its surface tension and improving its viscoelastic properties. Clinically, destabilization and rupture of the tear film are related to dry eye disease and are accompanied by changes in the quality and quantity of tear film lipids. In dry eye, eye drops containing oil-in-water emulsions are used for the supplementation of lipids and surface-active components to the tear film. We explore in detail the biophysical aspects of interactions of specific surface-active compounds, cetalkonium chloride and poloxamer 188, which are present in oil-in-water emulsions, with tear lipids. The aim is to better understand the macroscopically observed eye drops–tear film interactions by rationalizing them at the molecular level. To this end, we employ a multi-scale approach combining experiments on human meibomian lipid extracts, measurements using synthetic lipid films, and in silico molecular dynamics simulations. By combining these methods, we demonstrate that the studied compounds specifically interact with the tear lipid film enhancing its structure, surfactant properties, and elasticity. The observed effects are cooperative and can be further modulated by material packing at the tear–air interface.

【 授权许可】

Unknown