Toward the development of an artificial cornea: Improved stability of interpenetrating polymer networks

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials Applied biomaterials, 2011-07, Vol.98B (1), p.8-17
• Main Authors: Hartmann, Laura, Watanabe, Kenji, Zheng, Luo Luo, Kim, Chang-Yeon, Beck, Stayce E., Huie, Philip, Noolandi, Jaan, Cochran, Jennifer R., Ta, Christopher N., Frank, Curtis W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; artificial cornea; Biological and medical sciences; CHO Cells; Cornea; Cricetinae; Cricetulus; degradation; hydrogel; Hydrogels - chemistry; Keratitis - pathology; Male; Materials Testing; mechanical properties; Medical sciences; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; polymer; Prostheses and Implants; Rabbits; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1552-4973; 1552-4981; 1552-4981
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.31806

A novel interpenetrating network (IPN) based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and poly(acrylic acid) was developed and its use as an artificial cornea was evaluated in vivo. The in vivo results of a first set of corneal inlays based on PEG‐diacrylate precursor showed inflammation of the treated eyes and haze in the corneas. The insufficient biocompatibility could be correlated to poor long‐term stability of the implant caused by hydrolytic degradation over time. Adapting the hydrogel chemistry by replacing hydrolysable acrylate functionalities with stable acrylamide functionalities was shown to increase the long‐term stability of the resulting IPNs under hydrolytic conditions. This new set of hydrogel implants now shows increased biocompatibility in vivo. Rabbits with corneal inlay implants are healthy and have clear cornea and non‐inflamed eyes for up to 6 months after implantation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2011.