Abstract

Analysis of Proteins Bound to Contact Lenses

Katherine M Beglinger, Laura Zielewicz, Armand G Ngounou Wetie and Costel C Darie

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are any proteins that attach to contact lenses that can be removed by cleaning solutions and if so, whether it is possible to quantify them by Bradford assay and identify them by nanoliquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS). Our results indicate that the contact lenses indeed contain equal amounts of proteins, as determined by quantitative Bradford assay. NanoLC-MS/MS analysis led to the identification of several proteins, including lipocalin-1, lysozyme and tryptophan 5-hydroxylase. The significance of our findings is discussed.