Surface Modification of Silicone Rubber Membrane by Plasma Induced Graft Copolymerization as Artificial Cornea

Abstract

In this study a highly biocompatible polymer membrane was prepared by surface modification. An artificial cornea was also developed for clinical applications. Silicone rubber (SR) membrane was grafted with hydrophilic monomers such as 2‐hydroxyethyl methacry‐late (HEMA) and acrylic acid by plasma induced grafted polymerization. Surface properties of the SR were characterized using secondary ions mass spectra, Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection, and element spectra for chemical analysis. The corneal epithelial (CE) cell was cultured in vitro, and penetrating keratoplasty of albino rabbit cornea (in vivo) was performed to evaluate biological properties of modified SR membranes. The ability of the CE cell to attach onto various SR membranes was observed by inverted microscopy. The proliferation of CE cell was conducted in approximately 96 h. Experimental results indicated that the attachment and growth of CE onto SR‐g‐pHEMA (75 μg/ cm2) is enhanced. The morphologies of an attached CE cell are similar to those of a primary CE cell. In the in vivo study, the depth of anterior chamber was maintained 2 weeks after penetrating keratoplasty was performed with a SR grafted with pHEMA (210 μg/cm2). This phenomenon displayed a high biocompatibility of modified SR membrane with the CE cell. Furthermore, results in this study provide a valuable reference for application of the modified SR for an artificial cornea.

Preparation of PVA hydrogel with high-transparence and investigations of its transparent mechanism

“…Also, the KPro should be exible and should have sufficient tensile strength to allow surgical manipulation and xation. So far, developing a KPro has been attempted by many groups, [12][13][14][15][16][17] among which, the most promising articial cornea is the PHEMA KPro explored by Chirila group. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The PHEMA KPro had been assessed by replacing the damaged regions of the cornea of different animals, and found that the KPro could be retained longer than 3 years in some animals.…”

Microwave plasma surface modification of silicone elastomer with allylamine for improvement of biocompatibility

“…15 But the poor hydrophilicity and biocompatibility of silicone elastomers limit their application scope. Plasma surface modification can improve the surface properties of the silicone elastomers, especially the adhesion and growth of cells on the surface.…”

"Obtenção dos sistemas bioconjugados Crotoxina/PEBD-g-Phema e Crotoxina/PCL"

“…Neste trabalho foram utilizadas a espectroscopia em infravermelho, a microscopia eletrônica de varredura e o teste de hidrofilicidade. Há vários trabalhos que utilizaram a espectroscopia para análise de copolímeros de enxerto, dentre eles os de Hisue e col. (1992 e 1994) e Lee e col. (1996) [52][53][54] .…”

“…estudaram extensivamente a aplicação de hidrogéis poliméricos em diferentes substratos e suas correspondentes propriedades de biocompatibilidade [44] . Hisue e col. [52][53] e Lee e col. [54] estudaram a enxertia do PHEMA em borracha de silicone através da enxertia induzida por plasma para a obtenção de córneas artificiais.…”