Abstract
Purpose :
3D printing technology has the potential to develop personalised ophthalmic devices or organs with improved cost effectiveness and productivity. Limited experimental data exists as to the biocompatibility response of 3D printed photopolymers. We performed cell adhesion and protein adsorption studies of 3D printed photopolymers and materials used in current ophthalmic devices (Silicone, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)).
Methods :
Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) (Sigma, MO, USA) and proprietary photopolymer (‘Clear’ and ‘Flexible’ resin, FormLabs, MA, USA) sample discs (n=6, 5mm diameter) were developed using a high-resolution, desktop stereo-lithography (SLA) 3D printer (Form 1+, Formlabs). Materials used in current ophthalmic devices (Silicone, PTFE, PMMA) were punched out with similar dimensions to the 3D printed discs. Protein adsorption was quantified using fetal calf serum (Invitrogen, CA, USA) with a micro bicinchoninic acid (Micro BCA, ThermoFisher, MA, USA) protein assay kit and direct assessment of fluorescein-conjugated bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA, Sigma) adsorption. Discs were seeded with monocytes and incubated for 24 hours at 37oC. Quantification of cell metabolism and cytotoxicity were performed using Alamar Blue and Live/Dead (ThermoFisher) assay kits respectively. Readings were recorded using a plate reader (Fluostar Optima, BMG Labtech, Buckinghamshire, UK). Data were compared using a two-tailed unpaired t-Test.
Results :
3D printed photopolymers demonstrated similar cell adhesion and protein adsorption compared to materials used in current ophthalmic devices. There were no statistically significant differences in measurements observed between 3D printed materials (P>0.05).
Conclusions :
3D printed photopolymer material demonstrated a similar biocompatibility response to currently used materials and may allow for the development of customisable ophthalmic devices or organs.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.