As wearable health technologies evolve, smart contact lenses (SCLs) are emerging as powerful platforms for non-invasive, real-time ocular diagnostics. Now, researchers from Istanbul Okan University and Istinye University, led by Prof. Ali Zarrabi and Dr. Siavash Iravani, have presented a comprehensive review on MXene-based smart contact lenses, highlighting their transformative potential in vision care and ophthalmic health monitoring. This work outlines how MXenes -- 2D transition metal carbides -- can revolutionize contact lens functionality through biosensing, therapy, and user comfort.
Why MXene-Based Contact Lenses Matter
* Multifunctionality: Enable real-time monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP), glucose, and inflammation, while offering photothermal therapy and antimicrobial protection.
* High Performance: Transparent MXene films provide excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and biocompatibility.
* Therapeutic Potential: Support drug delivery, anti-inflammatory action, and even electromagnetic shielding for eye protection.
Innovative Design and Features
* Material Integration: MXenes like TiCT are embedded into lens substrates for strain sensing, photothermal conversion, and optical transparency.
* Self-Powered Sensing: MXene-based micro-supercapacitors and piezoresistive sensors enable continuous, battery-free IOP monitoring.
* Smart Therapeutics: MXene coatings reduce inflammation, prevent bacterial adhesion, and enhance post-surgical healing in intraocular lenses (IOLs).
Applications and Future Outlook
* Clinical Monitoring: Demonstrated 0.014 mmHg sensitivity in IOP sensors and 33.21 mV mmHg in crack-enhanced MXene-CNT lenses.
* Real-Time Feedback: Integrated with wireless modules and AI for smartphone-based health alerts and personalized diagnostics.
* Challenges and Opportunities: Key hurdles include long-term biostability, scalable synthesis, and maintaining optical clarity. Future efforts will focus on fluorine-free MXene production, surface functionalization, and clinical validation.
This review establishes MXene-based smart contact lenses as a promising frontier in digital ophthalmic healthcare, offering a convergence of biosensing, therapy, and comfort in a single wearable platform.