Set-up of innovative experimental methodologies for industrial research and development of biotechnological drugs, innovative formulations and nanotechnological products for prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases

Dry eye is a multifactorial disease characterized by reduced film layer and hyperosmotic environment, leading to a chronic inflammatory state that causes severe corneal compromission. In this project, we evaluated the efficacy of topical formulations for the treatment of dry eye, mainly medical devices containing hyaluronic acid and tamarind seed polysaccharide. At first, we tried to set-up in vitro models of dry eye disease using three-dimensional reconstructed human corneal tissues to understand the mechanisms underlying the pathology, assessing tissue viability and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Then, these models were used to evaluate the protective effect of the formulations, monitored by tissue viability and cytokines release, but also by the ability of creating a barrier over the cornea, indicated as the capacity of reducing caffeine permeability through the tissue. Research on topical formulations for dry eye treatment included also a period in a pharmaceutical company to optimize their industrial development. Two studies were conducted: the increase of hyaluronic acid dissolution temperature to decrease process duration, and the addition of a phospholipidic polymer as a viscosity-enhancer agent, instead of polysaccharide. Lastly, a collateral study was conducted in a phytochemistry research group to assess the mechanisms underlying compound extraction from plants and increase knowledge on natural extracts characterization by chromatographic analyses.