Biocompatibility Test For The Potential Materials Of Intraocular Lens

Nowadays, premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) with different optical designs are used clinically worldwide. The surgical and optical quality of IOLs highly relies on the materials of IOLs. Our main purpose is to find a better combination of different compositions of synthetic hydrogel which can be used in future IOLs and to test the biocompatibility with human lens epithelial cells. 

Research laboratory experiments

A total of four artificial compounds were chosen to synthesize the hydrogel, including poly (ethylene glycol) phenyl ether acrylate (PEG-PEA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EG-DMA), and styrene. By adjusting the proportion of chemical compounds, we try to compare the differences in biocompatibility with the use of human lens epithelial cells(HLEpiCs). The cells were co-cultured with the hydrogels for 24 hours.  Cell density and morphology on the surface of hydrogels were recorded under the confocal microscope. The presentation of cell morphology and cell density can help us to identify the possibility of biotoxicity of the artificial hydrogels. 

We adjusted the proportion of the styrene into four different groups, PHS16, PHS26, PHS36, and PHS46. The number indicates the proportion of styrene in the hydrogels. We found that cell density increases steadily along with the increment of styrene and reaches almost 100% in PHS46. The cells also show the typical growth pattern of human lens epithelial cells in PHS36 and PHS46. The proportion of PEG-PEA was also adjusted into four different groups, P30HS, P40HS, P50HS, and P60HS. Cell density and morphology showed an abnormal growth pattern in these four groups.  

The change of proportion of styrene may be a feasible way to improve the biocompatibility of hydrogels, while the PEG-PEA shows possible biotoxicity to human lens epithelial cells. More in vitro and in vivo experiments should be carried out to confirm the best composition of the hydrogels.