Investigation on the intracorneal lens material biocompatibility using the model of the corneal stromal cell culture

Abstract

Aim. To investigate cell reaction to different materials, potentially suitable for intracorneal lens (ICL) production.Materials and methods. A plane surface (2D) corneal stromal cell culture was performed in the presence of different experimental polymer samples, such as hydroxyethylmethacrylate, oligourethanemethacrylate and polymethylmethacrylate. The dynamics of cell numbers was evaluated over culture time. Conclusion on biocompatibility was made based on obtained data.Results. In each of the experimental groups there was a trend toward a steady increase in the number of cells from the 1st to 6th day of observation, the shapes of the cell growth curves showed no toxicity of materials and their ability not to interfere with cell proliferation. Cell proliferation in the contact to hydroxyethylmethacrylate and oligourethanemethacrylate materials was statistically significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in the presence of polymethylmethacrylate, which makes a strong case for their preferential usage for implantation into the stroma of the corneal optical area. When comparing the results obtained on the 6th day, the cells in the presence of the implant of hydroxyethylmethacrylate showed significantly less tendency to proliferate, than in the presence of oligourethanemethacrylate (p < 0.001). However, these differences were statistically significant not in all days.Conclusions. The results obtained have shown the absence of toxicity in experimental material samples and their low adhesive properties with respect to the stromal cell culture, thereby confirming its potential suitability for intracorneal implantation.

Keywords

• intracorneal lens
• cell culture
• presbyopia
• keratocytes
• cornea
• oligourethanemethacrylate
• polymethylmethacrylate
• hydroxyethylmethacrylate