Location
Agnar Pytte Center for Science Education and Research
Wednesday, Mar. 12, 2025
Case Western Reserve University
Agnar Pytte Center for Science Education and Research
2080 Adelbert Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106
Parking suggestion: Veale Center on Adelbert Rd (pay by credit card, maximum of $10).
Tentative schedule:
| 2:00 pm | Registration in Hovorka Atrium |
| 2:15-5:15 pm | Technical Sessions |
| 5:30-6:30 pm | Plenary Talk |
| 6:30 pm | Dinner |
| 7:30 pm | Student Awards |
Menu: TBA. Buffet dinner.
Plenary Talk: Keeping Eyes on Innovation: Injectable Polymeric Materials for Transformative Biomedical Applications
Dr. Metin Karayilan, Assistant Professor at CWRU
Abstract:
In this talk, I will present the materials and technologies developed in the Karayilan Research Lab, with a focus on ocular research, specifically addressing challenges in ocular trauma and cataract surgery. Cataracts, the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment, result from the degradation and aggregation of lens proteins due to genetic and environmental factors. The current treatment, as recommended by the NIH National Eye Institute, is cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, viscoelastic materials are critical for protecting the corneal endothelium from trauma and maintaining the capsular bag’s shape to facilitate the insertion of intraocular lens implants. However, retained viscoelastic materials can cause a sharp postoperative increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), potentially damaging the optic nerve and leading to vision loss or blindness. To prevent these complications, all viscoelastic materials must be fully aspirated at the end of surgery. This task is complicated by the fact that commercially available viscoelastics are clear and colorless, making them difficult to detect.
Our lab addresses this issue by designing and synthesizing transparent yet visible, fluorescent viscoelastic materials for use in intraocular surgeries. These fluorescent materials enable easy visualization and complete aspiration at the end of surgery, reducing the risk of postoperative complications without interfering with surgical procedures. This talk will highlight our most recent advancements and future plans in developing polymer melts and gels for applications in intraocular surgery, with the goal of improving patient outcomes.
Bio: Metin was originally born in the Aegean region and raised in Istanbul. He earned his BS in Chemistry and MS in Chemical Engineering in Turkey before moving to the “dry heat” state of Arizona to pursue his PhD at the University of Arizona. Missing humidity and green, he moved to Durham, North Carolina, for his postdoctoral work at Duke University. In July 2022, Metin joined the Department of Chemistry at Case Western Reserve University as an Assistant Professor, moving from “First in Flight” North Carolina to the “Birthplace of Aviation” Ohio. As a polymer chemist, his research focuses on developing materials for biomedical and sustainable chemistry applications.