1. History, evolution, and evolving standards of contact lens care.

Contact lenses and lens care regimens are an important part of eyecare practices and vital to lens-wearing patients. New contact lens materials and cleaning options continue to come to market and affect how patients wear and care for their lenses. In this section we look at how the contact lens and lens solution revolution started, how it has evolved over the last 40 years, and how standards have evolved and impacted these new offerings.

Formulation of chitosan-DNA nanoparticles with poly(propyl acrylic acid) enhances gene expression.

Poly(propyl acrylic acid) (PPAA) is a polymer specifically designed to disrupt lipid bilayer membranes within a sharply defined pH range. The pH sensitivity can be used to enhance the release of endocytosed drugs into the cytoplasmic compartment of the cell. By incorporating this polymer in a polymeric gene carrier, chitosan, the release of plasmid DNA from the endosomal compartment was enhanced.

The effect of the degree of chitosan deacetylation on the efficiency of gene transfection.

Chitosans with various degrees of deacetylation were synthesized by acetylation with acetic anhydride. These chitosans were evaluated for efficacy of nanoparticle formation, DNA binding efficiency, morphology, and in vitro and in vivo gene transfection efficiency. DNA binding efficacy was reduced as degree of deacetylation was decreased, therefore requiring an increased +/-ratio to effect complete DNA complexation.