Dynamic Ocular Permeation System (DOPS): A Bio-Mems Based In-Vitro Ocular Simulator for Real-Time Drug Permeation and Disease Modeling

Abstract

Topical ocular drug delivery remains challenging due to blinking, tear dynamics, and limited corneal permeability, which conventional in-vitro or animal models fail to replicate. To address this, the Dynamic Ocular Permeation System (DOPS) was developed—a bio-MEMS-based ocular simulator integrating microfluidics and actuators with a biomimetic lipid polymer composite membrane (BLCM) mimicking the corneal epithelium. DOPS reproduces physiological blinking and tear flow, enabling real-time drug diffusion analysis. This dynamic, ethical, and scalable platform bridges in-vitro and in-vivo gaps, accelerating ophthalmic drug development and disease modelling.