Azobenzene-Grafted Acrylate Coatings to Modulate Lens Epithelial Cells

Polymeric intraocular lenses (IOLs) are prosthetics used to replace cataracts to restore vision. However, in 20% or more of cases, lens epithelial cells (LECs) remaining after surgery migrate along the IOL and posterior capsule, causing new vision anomalies, termed posterior capsule opacification (PCO). The surface of the polymeric IOL is identified as a leading factor for the development of their failure, and we hypothesize that specialized coatings could mitigate or prevent these failures. Azobenzene was grafted to coatings made of poly(methacrylic acid-co-isodecyl acrylate) (MAAcoIDA) and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-isodecyl acrylate) (MMcoIDA) to produce a library of acrylic coatings. The azobenzene on the surface of these coatings could reversibly photoisomerize with 365 nm light and complex with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Human LEC cell line, B3-LECs, grown on these coatings had modulated protein and gene expression, with lower α-smooth muscle actin protein expression and inflammatory interleukin 6 gene expression in cells incubated on all of the variations of MMcoIDA compared to MAAcoIDA. Azobenzene modifications with and without UV and β-CD treatment also modulated cell behavior where cells on azobenzene-modified MAAcoIDA had decreased live/dead ratios after UV treatments, a potential method to reduce LEC viability. The cells on β-CD-treated azobenzene-modified MAAcoIDA had differences in cell adhesion after UV treatments, illustrating that UV light can be applied to modulate cell behavior in conjunction with β-CD. The different coatings present methods to modulate LEC adhesion, death, and behavior, temporarily when dependent on UV treatments.