title: Approaches to improving the biocompatibility of porous perfluoropolyethers for ophthalmic applications.
abstract: Porous perfluoropolyether (PFPE) membranes for ophthalmic applications were prepared with a zwitterion monomer, 3-[[2-(methacryloxy) ethyl](N,N-dimethyl)ammonio]-propane-1-sulphonate, copolymerized in weight ratios of 0-10%. The polymer samples were assessed for a range of physical properties, including equilibrium water content, bovine serum albumin permeability, transparency, refractive index and the ability to support corneal epithelial cell and tissue attachment, growth and migration. In vitro assessment of the polymers using bovine corneal epithelial cells and tissue showed that a zwitterion incorporation level of between 0% and 6% in the PFPE membranes supported the migration of an intact sheet of epithelial tissue without compromising epithelial cell attachment and growth, with 4-6% being the optimal level for these properties. Binding patterns of the cell adhesion glycoprotein fibronectin were also found to reflect the cell and tissue response. Effective nutrient permeability, refractive index and optical transparency were also maintained by the porous PFPE polymers containing this concentration of zwitterionic monomer. The presence of amounts of zwitterion greater than 6% was inhibitory to both tissue migration and cell growth and was associated with increased optical haze. These results demonstrated that it is possible to achieve the potential for increased biocompatibility in zwitterion-containing PFPE polymers without compromising existing beneficial characteristics.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Molecular Science, Bayview Avenue, Clayton VIC 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Grace Y N
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Tim C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Gail A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: McFarland
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wilkie
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003315:Cornea; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium; D004987:Ethers / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010539:Permeability; D012031:Refractometry; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004987:Ethers; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D012709:Serum Albumin; C078113:perfluoropolyether; D014867:Water