Regenerating Eyedrops May Help Damaged Corneas Heal

Northwestern Medicine investigators have developed first-of-its-kind eyedrops that use synthetic nanoparticles to help the eye regenerate cells that have been damaged by exposure to mustard gas, which has been historically used during wartime. These nanoparticles were designed to mimic some properties of high-density lipoproteins, which are naturally found in the bloodstream and can help the body regulate inflammation. The investigators tested the eyedrops on mice and discovered that the eyedrops not only reduced inflammation in the eyes of the mice but also restored cells that are responsible for maintaining and regenerating the cornea’s epithelium.