Enzyme-Resistant Glycocalyx Bionic Coating for Corneal Bandage Lens Surface Engineering

Advanced implantable medical devices often need to integrate multiple functions onto one surface to meet the complex needs in vivo. The construction of glycocalyx bionic coatings that mimic the natural multifunctional glycocalyx barrier of blood vessels, intestines, and ocular surfaces is an emerging strategy for function integration. However, in practical application scenarios such as corneal bandage lens (CBL) for corneal injury treatment, bio-enzymes from immune cells and bacteria can degrade the natural polymers constructing the glycocalyx bionic coating, such as hyaluronic acid, resulting in the loss of coating functionality. To address this issue, we propose an enzyme-resistant glycocalyx bionic coating (ER-GBC) strategy; by introducing baicalin as a hyaluronidase inhibitor into hyaluronic acid-based GBCs, the coating can be resistant to hyaluronidase's disruption. Meanwhile, by the free radical scavenging and bacteriostatic properties of baicalin and the bactericidal properties of silver nanoparticles embedded into the coating, the multiple functional ER-GBC of hydrophilic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory were realized. As a result, the ER-GBC-modified CBL achieved good therapeutic results in the rabbit model of bacterial keratitis. This ER-GBC strategy, constructed by combining glycocalyx active ingredients with corresponding enzyme inhibitors, is expected to provide new methods for developing bionic coatings for medical devices and clinical translation.