Targeting Glaucoma

Typical treatments for eye diseases such as glaucoma rely on topical drops that, even with proper use, cannot penetrate deeply. LayerBio, a startup focused on ophthalmology and wound care, offers an alternative based on nanotechnology invented by Paula Hammond ’84, PhD ’93, David H. Koch Professor in Engineering and head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. With support from MIT’s Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, Hammond and team developed a coating, composed of ultrathin layers of molecules of alternating charge, for sustained release of drugs to a targeted area.