An innovative lens surface functionalization to control Posterior Capsular Opacification

Cataract is the opacity of the lens, causing impairment of vision or even blindness and the surgery is still the only available treatment today. The intraocular lens (IOL) is a polymer implant designed to replace the natural lens in the cataract surgery. However, the bio-inert materials could not satisfy the unmet need in the secondary cataract control. Posterior capsular opacification (PCO, or Secondary Cataract), characterized by a thick and cloudy layer of lens epithelial cells (LECs), is the most common postoperative complication.

For the present study, a bioactive molecule is immobilized onto the conventional acrylic hydrophilic polymer pHEMA (Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)) using oxygen plasma treatment followed by dip-coating deposition. The RGD peptide sequence, being well-known for its ability to promote cellular attachment by binding to integrin receptors, is designed to stimulate the adhesion of LECs on the IOL. The data have shown the peptide immobilized biomaterial not only exhibits similar optical and physical properties, but also reveals enhanced bio-logical properties in cell adhesion and cell morphology maintenance. By means of surface functionalization of IOL to stimulate LECs adhesion, the secondary cataract could be controlled.