Biomolecular Imaging Group

Breaking the biochemical barriers to anti-cataract therapeutic delivery

Ms Melody Tang (AMRF Research Technician), Prof Zimei Wu (School of Pharmacy)

Since cataract is associated with decreased levels of antioxidants specifically in the lens centre, the use of dietary antioxidant supplements has been advocated as a therapeutic approach to slow cataract progression. However, studies into their efficacy are mixed due to an inability to target their delivery. Using fluorescence microscopy as a core technique, this research lays the foundation to deliver therapeutic molecules to specific regions of the aging lens to delay or prevent the onset of lens cataract by packaging therapeutic molecules in nanovesicles to enable their delivery to the lens nucleus.

Nutrient and drug uptake in the ocular lens

Mr Ali Zaharei (PhD student), Dr George Guo (MaSH Research Fellow), Dr Kyriakos Varnava (MaSH Research Fellow)

In the absence of a blood supply, the ocular lens operates a microcirculation of ions and water that aids optical performance and transparency. However, the role that microcirculation plays in nutrient transport and metabolic waste removal is unclear. The major lens pathology, cataract, may result from diabetes, and also prolonged steroid use. Therefore, a greater understanding of the uptake, transport and metabolism of nutrients and pharmacological compounds in the lens, and in a whole eye model, better the development of formulations of current ocular drugs to prevent off-target effects on the lens. An example of this is a more targeted anti-cataract therapy that delays the onset of cataract. This research utilises imaging mass spectrometry and proteomic approaches to characterise nutrient and drug uptake transport mechanisms and monitor their movement and metabolism throughout the lens.

Lens Crystallin Proteins and their role in Water-binding, Lens accommodation and Cataract

Ms Emily McFarlane (PhD student), Dr Nina Novikova, Prof Paul Donaldson, Dr Julie Lim

Presbyopia is a common condition in which clear, near vision is lost due to an inability of the lens to focus (accommodate) on near objects. Presbyopia is hypothesised to be caused, in part, by changes in the structure of proteins within the lens. Such changes are also implicated in the formation of age-related nuclear cataract, the most prevalent form of cataract. Changes to the structure of proteins can also influence the proteins ability to reversibly bind water, a key component for lens accommodation. This research aims to investigate the changes in protein structure and water binding capacity during the aging process using Mass Spectrometry and Raman Confocal Microscopy.

• Ocular drug mapping and partitioning in the whole eye – Prof Seppo Auriola (University of Eastern Finland)
• Molecular changes in cartilage associated with osteoarthritis and obesity – Dr Sue McGlashan (School of Medical Sciences), Ms Claire Dunham (PhD student)
• Novel informatics tools to annotate protein MALDI IMS data and discover novel protein changes in cancer metastasis – A/P Tom Cox (Garvan Institute of Medical Research), Mr Michael Papanicolaou (PhD student)
• Mapping novel hypoxia activated drugs to treat solid tumours – A/P Adam Patterson (ACSRC), A/P Jeff Smaill (ACSRC)
• Biomolecular changes in the human brain associated with the development of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease – Prof Maurice Curtis (Dept of Anatomy and Medical Imaging), Dr Victor Dieriks (Dept of Anatomy and Medical Imaging)

University of Auckland Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Research Platform

Biomedical Imaging Research Unit – a research platform offering leading microscopy facilities, fully supported by experienced staff

University of Auckland Mass Spectrometry Hub (MaSH) – A Strategic Research Initiative to support the use and impact of mass spectrometry-based research at the University of Auckland (Dr George Guo)