Sputter Deposition of Titanium on Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Enhances Corneal BiocompatibilityShow others and affiliations
2020 (English)In: Translational Vision Science & Technology, E-ISSN 2164-2591, Vol. 9, no 13, p. 1-14, article id 41Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Purpose: To evaluate titanium (Ti) sputtering of the poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) stem of the Boston Keratoprosthesis (BK) as a method to enhance interfacial adhesion between the PMMA and the recipient corneal tissue. Methods: PMMA specimens were plasma treated with Ar/O-2 and coated with Ti using a DC magnetron sputtering instrument. The topography and hydrophilicity of the surfaces were characterized using atomic force microscopy and a water contact angle instrument, respectively. Scratch hardness and adhesion of the Ti film were measured using a mechanical tester. Biocompatibility assessments were performed using cultured human corneal fibroblasts and whole blood ex vivo. The optical quality of the Ti sputtered BK was evaluated using a custom-made optical bench. Results: By contact angle studies, the Ti coating improved PMMA hydrophilicity to match that of medical-grade Ti (Ti-6Al-4V-ELI). Ti sputtering of contact surfaces resulted in a plate-like morphology with increased surface roughness, without impacting the transparency of the BK optical component. Scratch testing indicated that the mechanical behavior of the Ti coating was similar to that of casted Ti, and the coating was stable in pull-off adhesion testing. Sputtered Ti film was highly biocompatible based on tests of cell viability, adhesion, proliferation, differentiation, collagen deposition, and keratocan expression, the properties of which exceeded those of uncoated PMMA and did not induce increased complement activation. Conclusions: Titanium coating of the BK stem generated a mechanically and biologically favorable interface, which may help to enhance corneal stromal adhesion and biocompatibility. Translational Relevance: Improving the biocompatibility of the BK PMMA stem may improve long-term outcomes of implantation.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology , 2020. Vol. 9, no 13, p. 1-14, article id 41
Keywords [en]
poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), titanium sputtered coating, Boston Keratoprosthesis, artificial cornea, biocompatibility
National Category
Medical Materials Materials Chemistry
Research subject
Chemistry, Biochemistry
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-101357DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.13.41ISI: 000617720000008PubMedID: 33442495Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85099336041OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-101357DiVA, id: diva2:1531305
2021-02-252021-02-252023-01-24Bibliographically approved