Value Proposition
· Non-surgical, non-invasive treatment for loss of vision caused by corneal damage.
· Cost effective to manufacture
· Easy application
· Regenerates existing cornea structure to restore vision.
Unmet Need
The only curative option for many cases of corneal blindness remains surgical corneal transplantation, a resource‑intensive procedure that requires specialized surgeons and prolonged recovery. Donor corneal tissue is in short supply worldwide, a limitation that is particularly acute outside the United States and restricts access to transplantation for large patient populations. Existing synthetic keratoprostheses and engineered corneas have achieved limited success, still rely on invasive surgery, and often demand extensive postoperative management. These factors underscore a clear clinical gap for a non‑invasive, rapidly deployable therapy that enables regeneration of the patient’s own corneal tissue, reduces dependence on donor grafts, and lessens the need for specialist surgical resources.
Technology Description
OcuPair™ is a photo‑crosslinkable dendrimer–hyaluronic acid hydrogel developed at Johns Hopkins that serves as a transparent bioadhesive bandage and sealant for corneal injuries. The formulation is applied to the damaged corneal surface as a liquid and polymerized in situ with visible light to form a mechanically supportive, adherent hydrogel that protects the wound, prevents fluid loss and infection, and provides a permissive matrix for endogenous tissue repair. Preclinical studies show rapid adhesion, effective wound coverage, biocompatibility, and support for corneal healing.
Stage of Development: Proof of concept in animal models.
Publications:
1. Kambhampati, Siva P., et al. "OcuPair, a novel photo-crosslinkable dendrimer-hyaluronic acid hydrogel bandage/bioadhesive for corneal injuries and temporary corneal repair." bioRxiv (2025): 2025-01.
2. Kambhampati, Siva P., et al. "OcuPair, a Novel Photo‐crosslinkable PAMAM Dendrimer‐Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Bandage/Bioadhesive for Corneal Injuries and Temporary Corneal Repair." Advanced Science 12.23 (2025): 2417731.
3. Siva Pramodh Kambhampati, Hui Lin, Rishi Sharma, Santiago Appiani, Dan Saragnese, Samuel C Yiu, Jeffrey Cleland, Kannan Rangaramanujam; A novel, easy-to-use hydrogel sealant (OcuPairTM) for temporary corneal repair. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2021;62(8):940. (Abstract for ARVO Annual Meeting)
4. WO 2025/184657
