Facilities and capabilities

Our biological sciences department includes five wet laboratories, and has the capacity to conduct the following types of analysis:

Biomaterial engineering

  • Molecular imprinting
  • Uptake and release of drugs for delivery to eye

Contact lens materials

  • Defects
  • Diameter
  • Effect of air exposure
  • Inflammatory markers
  • Lipid deposits
  • Moisture analysis
  • Power profile
  • Protein deposits
  • Radius
  • Surface wettability
  • Thickness
  • Topography
  • Water content analysis
  • Water break-up

Conjunctival analysis

  • Cytology
  • Protein analysis
  • RNA regulation

Corneal cell collection and analysis

  • Cell identification/phenotype
  • Cytotoxicity (in vitro)

Lens care systems

  • Cleaning efficacy (proteins and lipids)
  • Physical characteristics

Meibum analysis

  • Lipid analysis

Microbiology and toxicology

  • Anti-microbial efficacy of lens care systems
  • Bacterial adhesion
  • Bacterial growth
  • Biofilm assay
  • Biofilm testing
  • Microbial contamination
  • Microbial identification

Tear film analysis

  • Cytokine analysis
  • Ferning
  • Lipid analysis
  • Protein analysis and quantification
  • Osmolality

Toxicology

  • Cytotoxicity
  • In vitro cell culture
  • Immunohistochemistry