Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the effects of the modification of intraocular lens [IOL] surface properties caused by coating with nanostructured carbon.
Methods: :
An acrylate IOL type was tested in the carbon-coated and in the genuine state. Surface hydrophobicity was determined using the "sessile water drop" method. Bacterial adhesion rate was measured using [³H]-labelled S epidermidis by scintillation counting. Finally, silicone oil adhesion was detected by the EPCO (Evaluation of Posterior Capsular Opacification) system. All settings were performed twofold, unadsorbed or preadsorbed with fibronectin [FN], to model the conditions outside and within the eye.
Results: :
FN decreases hydrophobicity of acrylate IOL significantly from 90.6° to 81.9° (P = 0.002). Carbon surface modification decreases hydrophobicity of acrylate IOL significantly from 90.6° to 52.8° (P < 0.001). In addition FN decreases hydrophobicity on carbon-coated acrylate IOL significantly from 52.8° to 23.4° (P < 0.001).Bacterial adhesion to acrylate IOL is significantly increased by FN from 0.9% to 2.0% (P = 0.004) and significantly decreased by carbon coating to 0.04% (P < 0.001). FN displays no significant impact on carbon coated acrylate IOL (P = 0.18).To acrylate material, silicone oil adhesion rate is significantly decreased by FN from 73.0% to 2.0% (P < 0.001) and evenmore decreased by carbon surface modification to 0.4% (P < 0.001). Again, FN displays no significant impact on carbon modified acrylate IOL (P = 0.92).
Conclusions: :
By carbon surface modification the eye’s foreign body reaction may be diminished significantly. Reducing bacterial and silicon oil adhesion may be a promising improvement of IOL surfaces for the future. In vivo tests are to follow.
Keywords: intraocular lens • bacterial disease • inflammation