Comparison of Consecutive Therapeutic Effects of Nanoemulsion and Emulsion Cyclosporin in Dry Eye Patients after Short-Term Treatment with Topical Fluorometholone.

PURPOSE: To compare the consecutive therapeutic effects of 0.05% emulsion and nanoemulsion cyclosporine (CsA) in dry eye patients after short-term treatment with unpreserved 0.1% fluorometholone (FML). METHODS: A prospective, randomized, and double-blinded study of dry eye patients was conducted in a single center. Patients were assigned to the nanoemulsion CsA (group 1) and emulsion CsA (group 2) groups. To relieve discomfort, unpreserved 0.1% FML was used in both groups for 4 weeks and then changed to 0.05% CsA for the next 8 weeks. Symptom assessment in dry eye (SANDE) score, tear secretion, tear film breakup time (TBUT), corneal staining score (CSS), meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) grade, and meibomian gland (MG) expression were evaluated at baseline and at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients completed the treatment (9 and 15 patients in groups 1 and 2); in both the groups, SANDE score, TBUT, MGD grade, and MG expression were significantly improved after treatment with unpreserved 0.1% FML (each p < 0.005), and the therapeutic effects were enhanced with changes in nanoemulsion or emulsion CsA compared with baseline (each p < 0.001). TBUT and CSS after treatment in group 1 were significantly improved compared to those in group 2 (p=0.003 and 0.020, respectively). CONCLUSION: Consecutive therapeutic effects of nanoemulsion or emulsion CsA after short-term treatment with unpreserved FML were excellent in patients with dry eyes. Topical nanoemulsion CsA showed better improvement in TBUT and OSS than CsA. This trial is registered with KCT0006070.

A Spray-On Carbon Nanotube Artificial Neuron Strain Sensor for Composite Structural Health Monitoring.

We present a nanocomposite strain sensor (NCSS) to develop a novel structural health monitoring (SHM) sensor that can be easily installed in a composite structure. An NCSS made of a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/epoxy composite was installed on a target structure with facile processing. We attempted to evaluate the NCSS sensing characteristics and benchmark compared to those of a conventional foil strain gauge. The response of the NCSS was fairly good and the result was nearly identical to the strain gauge. A neuron, which is a biomimetic long continuous NCSS, was also developed, and its vibration response was investigated for structural damage detection of a composite cantilever. The vibration response for damage detection was measured by tracking the first natural frequency, which demonstrated good result that matched the finite element (FE) analysis.

Carbon nanotube composites multi-sensing characteristics based on electrical impedance properties.

CNT composites demonstrate sensory materials properties such as piezoresistivity, chemical and bio selectivity and they can detect structural deterioration, chemical contamination and bio signal by means of their impedance measurement (resistance and capacitance). In this study, electrical impedance characteristics of CNT composite electrodes are studied to simultaneously detect mechanical and chemical symptoms in engineering applications. We measured variations of electrical resistance and capacitance values of CNT composite electrodes under static load for mechanical sensing behavior and under the change of buffer solution amount for chemical sensing behavior. At the mechanical sensing behavior test, the resistance values changed quite linearly under bending and compression loads while the capacitance value varied within small range with invalid relationship to the loads. At the chemical sensing behavior investigation, the electrode's capacitance showed drastic change while the resistance value only changed within few percent range. The independently changing pattern of electrical impedance parameters according to mechanical strain and chemical effect can provide new opportunities to design a novel multifunctional sensor that can simultaneously monitor mechanical and chemical behaviors of a target system.

The bulk piezoresistive characteristics of carbon nanotube composites for strain sensing of structures.

The bulk piezoresistivity of carbon nanotube (CNT) in polymer matrix was discussed to develop a strain sensor for engineering applications. The polymer improves interfacial bonding between the nanotubes and the CNT composite and that enhances the strain transfer, repeatability, and linearity of the sensor. The largest contribution of piezoresistivity of the sensor may come from slippage of overlaying or bundled nanotubes in the matrix, from a macroscopic point of view. Nano interfaces of CNTs in a matrix polymer also contribute to the linear strain response compared to other micro size carbon filler. The strain sensor had a low bandwidth and adequate strain sensitivity. The nanocomposite strain sensor is particularly useful for detecting large strains which can monitor strain and stress on a structure with simple electric circuit for strain monitoring of structures.