Surface modification of silicone rubber membrane by plasma induced graft copolymerization as artificial cornea

In this study a highly biocompatible polymer membrane was prepared by surface modification. An artificial cornea was also developed for clinical applications. Silicone rubber (SR) membrane was grafted with hydrophilic monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and acrylic acid by plasma induced grafted polymerization. Surface properties of the SR were characterized using secondary ions mass spectra, Fourier transform infrared/attenuated total reflection, and element spectra for chemical analysis. The corneal epithelial (CE) cell was cultured in vitro, and penetrating keratoplasty of albino rabbit cornea (in vivo) was performed to evaluate biological properties of modified SR membranes. The ability of the CE cell to attach onto various SR membranes was observed by inverted microscopy. The proliferation of CE cell was conducted in approximately 96 h. Experimental results indicated that the attachment and growth of CE onto SR-g-pHEMA (75 micrograms/ cm2) is enhanced. The morphologies of an attached CE cell are similar to those of a primary CE cell. In the in vivo study, the depth of anterior chamber was maintained 2 weeks after penetrating keratoplasty was performed with a SR grafted with pHEMA (210 micrograms/cm2). This phenomenon displayed a high biocompatibility of modified SR membrane with the CE cell. Furthermore, results in this study provide a valuable reference for application of the modified SR for an artificial cornea.