PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Eye wear breakthrough: MXene-coated lenses for safer and smarter wearables

Researchers develop advanced contact lenses with stable MXene coatings providing enhanced protection against electromagnetic radiation

2025-06-04
(Press-News.org)

With recent advancements in technology, the Internet of Things and wireless devices are in high demand. However, these innovations also raise concerns about prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which may pose potential risks to eye health. MXenes, a class of two-dimensional transition metal carbides/nitrides, have shown promise in shielding against EMR. However, their poor adhesion and susceptibility to oxidation have limited their applications.

In a recent breakthrough, researchers led by Professor Takeo Miyake from the Graduate School of Information Production and Systems, Waseda University, Japan, have developed stable MXene-coated contact lenses with remarkable optical and EMR shielding properties. Their novel fabrication method ensures optimum adhesion and prevents oxidation of the MXene coating, overcoming previous limitations. The study was a collaborative effort between Waseda University, Kyoto University, and Yamaguchi University Hospital, bringing together expertise in nanofabrication, 2D materials, and ophthalmology to ensure eye safety. The findings were published in the journal Small Science on June 04, 2025. This research was coauthored by Dr. Lunjie Hu from the Graduate School of Information Production and Systems, Waseda University; Associate Professor Jun Hirotani from Kyoto University; Professor Kazuhiro Kimura from Yamaguchi University Hospital; Assistant Professor Atsushige Ashimori from Yamaguchi University Hospital; and Assistant Professor Saman Azhari from the Graduate School of Information Production and Systems, Waseda University.

“Smart contact lenses with built-in electronic components are getting a lot of attention as the next big thing in wearable devices. For the first time, though, this means we’ll be placing wireless circuit lenses directly on our corneas, exposing them to electromagnetic waves around the clock. Inspired by breakthroughs in 2D materials and device fabrication technologies, we came up with highly functional protective contact lenses,” says lead author Prof. Miyake.

To fabricate these highly functional contact lenses, the research team started by preparing dispersions of MXene, which were vacuum filtered with mixed cellulose ester (MCE) membranes to produce MXene-based films. The films were then coated onto commercial soft contact lenses through a wet transfer approach using acetone. The prepared lenses were then analyzed extensively for physical properties, conductivity, and safety. “We chose a wet-transfer method for the effortless attachment of MXene nanosheets to the unconventionally shaped surface of soft contact lenses, which ensures scalability,” adds Prof. Miyake.

The fabricated contact lenses showed remarkable results with >80% visible light transmission, high conductivity, dehydration protection, and high biocompatibility with >90% cell viability. The deposited layers of MXene showed variable thickness based on the concentrations of the dispersions, and the adhesive properties of the dissolved MCE membrane ensured optimum attachment of MXene. Additionally, the MCE layer also protected the MXene from oxidizing.

Prof. Miyake discusses the significance of their method, saying, “Our research can have a multifaceted impact. First, the stable and effortless coating of MXene nanosheets via wet transfer broadens the possibilities for commercial applications. Secondly, our method is simple yet effective in preventing MXene oxidation, turning a commonly overlooked challenge—MXene oxidation—into a resolved obstacle.”

To assess electromagnetic shielding, the MXene-coated lenses were tested on porcine eyes exposed to microwave heating and thermal imaging. The lenses exhibited a rapid temperature rise, indicating strong EMR absorption and dissipation, which prevented direct heating of the eyes. When exposed to high-frequency microwaves, MXene effectively absorbed electromagnetic energy and released it as thermal radiation, thereby protecting the porcine eyes from direct heating.

Furthermore, the researchers confirmed a robust electromagnetic shielding efficiency of up to 93%, representing the highest reported specific shielding effectiveness for biocompatible materials at the same thickness level, offering substantial protection against high-frequency radiation. The lenses demonstrated strong protection against high-frequency EMR, ensuring optimal eye health.

With high electromagnetic protection and reliable properties, this breakthrough in smart contact lenses represents a significant advancement toward safer wearable technologies. By leveraging the unique properties of MXene nanosheets, the lenses provide effective protection against high-frequency radiation while maintaining comfort and usability. Beyond eye health, this breakthrough paves the way for the integration of advanced nanomaterials in smart wearables, medical implants, and bioelectronics, addressing both safety and functionality.

 

***

 

Reference
Authors: Takeo Miyake1, Lunjie Hu1, Jun Hirotani2, Kazuhiro Kimura3, Atsushige Ashimori3, Saman Azhari1
DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202400628
Affiliations: 1Graduate School of Information Production and Systems, Waseda University, Japan
                         2Kyoto University, Japan
                   3Yamaguchi University Hospital, Japan

 

About Waseda University
Located in the heart of Tokyo, Waseda University is a leading private research university that has long been dedicated to academic excellence, innovative research, and civic engagement at both the local and global levels since 1882. The University has produced many changemakers in its history, including nine prime ministers and many leaders in business, science and technology, literature, sports, and film. Waseda has strong collaborations with overseas research institutions and is committed to advancing cutting-edge research and developing leaders who can contribute to the resolution of complex, global social issues. The University has set a target of achieving a zero-carbon campus by 2032, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in 2015. 
To learn more about Waseda University, visit https://www.waseda.jp/top/en  

 

About Professor Takeo Miyake from Waseda University
Dr. Takeo Miyake is a distinguished Professor at the Graduate School of Information Production and Systems Waseda University, Japan. He holds a Ph.D. in nanoscience and has held positions at institutions like Tohoku University and the University of Washington. He has contributed significantly to the field, with numerous publications on topics like metal nanotubes and biofuel cells, while also specializing in soft materials, wet interfaces, and ion-controlling systems for devices that interact with biological systems. His recent research mainly focuses on bioelectronics, specifically developing biocompatible interfaces between electronic devices and human biology.

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

‘AI scientist’ suggests combinations of widely available non-cancer drugs can kill cancer cells

2025-06-04
An ‘AI scientist’, working in collaboration with human scientists, has found that combinations of cheap and safe drugs – used to treat conditions such as high cholesterol and alcohol dependence – could also be effective at treating cancer, a promising new approach to drug discovery. The research team, led by the University of Cambridge, used the GPT-4 large language model (LLM) to identify hidden patterns buried in the mountains of scientific literature to identify potential new cancer drugs. To test their approach, the researchers prompted GPT-4 to identify potential new drug combinations that could have a significant impact on a breast cancer ...

Phage therapy at a turning point: Global experts converge in Berlin to shape the future of antimicrobial medicine

2025-06-03
As antibiotic resistance reaches critical levels worldwide, the 8th World Congress on Targeting Phage Therapy (June 10–11, 2025) returns to Berlin, bringing together over 75 international speakers and contributors from 27 countries. The congress offers the most comprehensive scientific and clinical update on phage therapy—a once-overlooked solution now at the forefront of next-generation medicine. Phage Therapy 2025 covers the full translational pipeline: from phage–bacteria interactions and biofilm disruption to regulatory frameworks, GMP manufacturing, and ...

Low calorie diets linked to heightened risk of depressive symptoms

2025-06-03
Following a low calorie diet is linked to a heightened risk of depressive symptoms, finds research published in the open access journal, BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. Men and those who are overweight may be especially vulnerable to the effects of restrictive eating, the findings suggest. A ‘healthy’ diet rich in minimally processed foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, lean proteins and fish, is generally associated with a lower risk of depression, while an ‘unhealthy’ diet, dominated by ultra-processed foods, refined carbs, saturated fats, processed ...

Bronchiolitis, monoclonal antibody halves hospitalizations of children younger than six months old

2025-06-03
A single dose of the long-acting antibody nirsevimab developed to prevent respiratory syncytial virus infections (The drug has been approved at the European level to protect infants in their first season of exposure to the virus) to infants can halve hospitalisations for bronchiolitis. It is the result of a study involving the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome campus - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, co-ordinated by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Catalonia, Children's Emergency Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary and University of Edinburgh, ...

Mum’s obesity linked to child’s heightened hospital admission risk for infection

2025-06-03
Children born to mothers who are very obese with a BMI of 35 or higher are at heightened risk of being admitted to hospital for an infection, finds a long term study published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight before and after the pregnancy, say the researchers. On current trends, the global prevalence of maternal obesity is projected to reach nearly 1 in 4 (23%) by 2030, point out the researchers. This is of particular concern, given that obesity is characterised by a state of chronic inflammation, which increases the risk of a disordered immune ...

Millions of new solar system objects to be found and ‘filmed in technicolor’ – studies predict

2025-06-03
A group of astronomers from across the globe, including a team from the University of Washington and led by Queen’s University Belfast, have revealed new research showing that millions of new solar system objects will be detected by a brand-new facility, which is expected to come online later this year.   The NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory is set to revolutionize our knowledge of the solar system’s “small bodies” — asteroids, comets and other minor planets.  The Rubin Observatory, ...

Pitt study has upended decades-old assumptions about brain plasticity

2025-06-03
A new study from Pitt researchers challenges a decades-old assumption in neuroscience by showing that the brain uses distinct transmission sites — not a shared site — to achieve different types of plasticity. The findings, published in Science Advances, offer a deeper understanding of how the brain balances stability with flexibility, a process essential for learning, memory and mental health. Neurons communicate through a process called synaptic transmission, where one neuron releases chemical messengers called neurotransmitters ...

Hertz Foundation partners with Analog Devices to empower future leaders in analog, digital and software technology solutions

2025-06-03
The Hertz Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering the nation’s most promising innovators, and Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a global semiconductor leader, have announced a new partnership to drive the next generation of scientific leadership in analog, digital, and software technology solutions. Through the Hertz Fellowship – the nation’s most prestigious doctoral fellowship – and its influential network of 1,300 Hertz Fellows, the Hertz Foundation has been at the forefront of advancing science and technology for more than 60 years. Hertz Fellows are responsible for some of the most significant progress of the past century, from the recent launch of the ...

Would you hand over your health data if it meant better care?

2025-06-03
Despite growing concerns about data privacy, new research from the University of South Australia shows that most people are happy to hand over their health information if it could help improve their care.   In a new global study, UniSA researchers found that 94% of people who use wearable activity trackers – such as Fitbits, Garmins, as well as Samsung or Apple Watches – are open to sharing data with their healthcare providers.   Of these respondents, 47% of people had already discussed their data with their healthcare provider, ...

Study examines how well wearable tech tracks fitness metrics

2025-06-03
OXFORD, Miss. – Many Americans rely on their Apple Watches or similar devices each day to count their steps, track workouts, and measure how many calories they burn. But are those wearable devices accurate? University of Mississippi professor Minsoo Kang and doctoral student Ju-Pil Choe are working to answer that question. Kang, a professor of sport analytics, and Choe reviewed 56 studies that compared the Apple Watch to trusted reference tools in measuring energy burned, heart rate and step counts. Data ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

CPADS: a web tool for comprehensive pancancer analysis of drug sensitivity

Several healthy diet patterns are associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes regardless of ethnicity – shows meta-analysis of more than 800,000 people

Liver fibrosis to cancer: scientists map path to block deadly transition

Microbiota boost immunotherapy? A meta-analysis dives into fecal microbiota transplantation and immune checkpoint inhibitors

Cancer's double agents: Fibroblasts both help and hinder immunotherapy

Unveiling large multimodal models in pulmonary CT: A comparative assessment of generative AI performance in lung cancer diagnostics

AI can fake peer reviews and escape detection, study finds

T cell senescence in the tumor microenvironment

Simple solution to save lives globally: Low-cost ‘SimpleSilo’ offers hope for babies with gastroschisis

Curbing roadway fatalities hinges on shared responsibility and rethinking safety

Beta-HPV can directly cause skin cancer in immunocompromised people

Efforts underway to end race-based assessments of lung function

CAR-T cell therapy linked to increased risk of secondary primary malignancies globally

THER: integrative web tool for tumor hypoxia exploration and research

How sources of dietary fat influence cancer growth in obesity

Women less likely than men to receive MS drugs

AI language models sharpen chest CT diagnoses, speeding surgical decisions

Machine learning model predicts which patients with nasopharyngeal cancer respond to radiation

GenAI models extract pathological features for lung adenocarcinoma grading and prognosis

New research further investigates safety of general anesthesia in infants

We might inhale 68,000 lung-penetrating microplastics daily in our homes and cars – 100x previous estimates

Indian adults who move to cities are significantly more likely to become obese than their rural counterparts - and the longer they stay, the greater the risk

Instagram images could influence public opinion on certain major events

Different dimensions of psychopathy might be associated with different physiological underpinnings of facial emotion recognition - and oxytocin could affect this skill - per scoping review of 66 studi

How cumulative heat exposure affects students

An international survey of over 300 adults reveals that males born in summer are potentially more prone to depression than those born in other seasons

The unusual head of a fish and the puzzle of its genes

How does metformin lower blood sugar?

Increasing solar power could lead to significant cuts in CO2 emissions

Black Death offers window into how childhood malnutrition affects adult health

[Press-News.org] Eye wear breakthrough: MXene-coated lenses for safer and smarter wearables
Researchers develop advanced contact lenses with stable MXene coatings providing enhanced protection against electromagnetic radiation