UV-assisted treatment on hydrophobic acrylic IOLs anterior surface with methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine: Reducing inflammation and maintaining low posterior capsular opacification properties

Abstract

In order to enhance the surface biocompatibility of hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs), the anterior surface was modified through graft polymerization with methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) initiated by ultraviolet radiation. Chemical changes on the IOL surface were characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the covalent binding of MPC. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis were used to characterise the morphological changes to the IOL surface. Static water contact angle (WCA) measurements showed that the hydrophilicity of the anterior surface was enhanced after grafting with MPC. The surface biocompatibility of the untreated and Anterior UV-MPC IOLs was compared with the adhesion behaviour of macrophages in vitro. The degree of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) of untreated, anterior treated, and posterior treated IOLs was evaluated by observing the behaviour of lens epithelial cells (LECs) between the IOL optic portion and type IV collagen. Results suggest that the MPC modified anterior surface resisted the attachment of macrophages. However, MPC grafted onto the posterior surface enhanced the migration of LECs between the IOL optic and type IV collagen, which may result in severe PCO. In conclusion, our Anterior UV-MPC IOLs may reduce postoperative inflammation while maintaining the low PCO rates of hydrophobic acrylic IOLs.

Keywords: Intraocular lens; Macrophage adhesion; Methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine; Posterior capsular opacification; Surface modification; Ultraviolet radiation.