# US 10,309,975 B2 · Functionalized eyewear device for detecting biomarker in tears

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- Number: US 10,309,975 B2
- Document ID: US10309975B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/505,373
- Filed: 2015-08-21
- Published: 2017-11-16
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-21
- Assignees: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
- Applicants: University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
- Inventors: Yoon-Seong Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309975B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/6896: {Neurological disorders, e.g. Alzheimer's disease}
- C08B 37/0072: {Hyaluronic acid, i.e. HA or hyaluronan; Derivatives thereof, e.g. crosslinked hyaluronic acid (hylan) or hyaluronates}
- C08L 5/08: Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
- G01N 33/528: {Atypical element structures, e.g. gloves, rods, tampons, toilet paper}
- G02C 7/04: Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00)
- G01N 2333/47: Assays involving proteins of known structure or function as defined in the subgroups
- G01N 2800/2821: Alzheimer
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- C08B: POLYSACCHARIDES; DERIVATIVES THEREOF (polysaccharides containing less than six saccharide radicals attached to each other by glycosidic linkages C07H; fermentation or enzyme-using processes C12P19/00; sugar industry C13; production of cellulose D21)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00)

## Abstract

Disclosed herein is a functionalized eyewear device that is adapted for collecting and analyzing disease biomarkers. Specifically, exemplified is a contact lens that has aptamer molecules associated therewith for binding to a specific biomarker (or biomarkers). The eyewear device is useful for detecting and diagnosing medical conditions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A functionalized eyewear device for detecting a molecule in tear fluid, said device configured to rest on the eye and comprising a biomarker-capture molecule associated therewith that binds to alpha-synuclein.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The eyewear device of claim 1, wherein said device is a contact lens.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The eyewear device of claim 2, wherein contact lens is comprised of a hydrogel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The eyewear device of claim 3, wherein said hydrogel comprises a hydroxyl group on its surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The eyewear device of claim 4, wherein said hydroxyl group is reacted with a silane compound.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The eyewear device of claim 1, wherein said biomarker-capture molecule is an aptamer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The eyewear device of claim 6, wherein said aptamer is attached to a hydrocarbon chain having a functional group that interacts with a terminus of a silane compound.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The functionalized eyewear device of claim 6, wherein the aptamer is modified to comprise a first linker having amino terminus that is bound to a second linker attached to a surface of the eyewear device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The functionalized eyewear device of claim 8, wherein the aptamer comprises a 5′ end that is bound to the first linker.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The functionalized eyewear device of claim 9, wherein the first linker comprises a hydrocarbon chain.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The functionalized eyewear device of claim 6, comprising at least two different aptamers that each bind to a different biomarker.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A method of detecting alpha-synuclein in tear fluid, the method comprising
applying to an eye of a subject a functionalized eyewear device according claim 1 for a period of time for alpha-synuclein in the tear fluid to bind with the biomarker-capture molecule, wherein alpha-synuclein binds to the biomarker-capture molecule to produce a sample-loaded device; and
subjecting said sample-loaded device to a detection process.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein said detection process comprises subjecting said sample-loaded device with chemical reagents that produce a colorimetric detectable signal.