Surface modification of hydrogel intraocular lenses to prevent cell proliferation.

Intraocular lenses made from a hydrogel matrix were coated with a bioactive polymer exhibiting sulfonate and carboxylate groups. The anchorage of the macromolecular chains bearing the anionic groups to the hydrogel implant surface was obtained by an intermolecular reaction of the photosensitive groups attached to the ionic polymer, in order to obtain a pseudo-interpenetrated network. Cell proliferation assays performed on coated and uncoated hydrogel lenses showed an inhibiting effect of the bioactive polymer coating by up to 40% at day 6. The inhibiting effect was due to the presence and the distribution of both sulfonate and carboxylate groups along the macromolecular chains, which led to the appearance of ""bioactive sites"" allowing controlled interactions of surface, adhesive proteins and cells. (Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics 2004; 2: 183-9).