In order to facilitate the adhesion of corneal epithelial cells to a poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) substrate ultimately for the development of a synthetic keratoprosthesis, PDMS surfaces were modified by covalent attachment of combinations of cell adhesion and synergistic peptides derived from laminin and fibronectin. Peptides studied included YIGSR and its synergistic peptide PDSGR from laminin and the fibronectin derived RGDS and PHSRN. Surfaces were modified with combinations of peptides determined by an experimental design. Peptide surface densities, measured using 125-I labeled tyrosine containing analogs, were on the order of pmol/cm2. Surface density varied as a linear function of peptide concentration in the reaction solution, and was different for the different peptides examined. The lowest surface density at all solution fractions was obtained with GYRGDS, while the highest density was consistently obtained with GYPDSGR. These results provide evidence that the surfaces were modified with multiple peptides. Water contact angles and XPS results provided additional evidence for differences in the chemical composition of the various surfaces. Significant differences in the adhesion of human corneal epithelial cells to the modified surfaces were noted. Statistical analysis of the experimental adhesion results suggested that solution concentration YIGSR, RGDS, and PHSRN as well as the interaction effect of YIGSR and PDSGR had a significant effect on cell interactions. Modification with multiple peptides resulted in greater adhesion than modification with single peptides only. Surface modification with a control peptide PPSRN in place of PHSRN resulted in a decrease in cell adhesion in virtually all cases. These results suggest that surface modification with appropriate combinations of cell adhesion peptides and synergistic peptides may result in improved cell surface interactions.

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Surface modifying macromolecules (SMM) were synthesized and blended into the casting solution of poly(ether sulfone). The solution was cast to films with thickness of 0.12 and 0.24 mm. The cast films were placed in an oven with forced air circulation for periods of 3, 5, 7, and 2000 min to remove the solvent, before being immersed into water at 4°C for gelation. The membranes so prepared were further dried and subjected to contact angle measurement and XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) analysis. It was found that the contact angle increased as the solvent evaporation period increased. The increase in contact angle was faster when the membrane was thinner. According to the XPS analysis, after an initial time lag the surface fluorine content increased as the evaporation time increased and finally leveled off. The increase in surface fluorine content was also faster when the membrane was thinner. A kinetic model was established for the SMM surface migration.

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Epithelialization of a corneal implant is a desirable property. In this study we compared surface modification of poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) with the cell adhesion peptides RGDS and YIGSR. Various parameters in the tresyl chloride activation and modification reactions were considered in order to maximize surface coverage with the peptide including tresyl chloride reaction solvent. tresyl chloride reaction time, tresyl chloride concentration, peptide concentration, and peptide reaction pH. Surface chemistry and corneal epithelial cell adhesion to the modified surfaces were examined. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data suggested that while peptide modification had occurred, surface coverage with the peptide was incomplete. Acetone was found to result in a higher fraction of nitrogen and surface bound carboxyl groups compared to dioxane and ether. Furthermore, corneal epithelial cell adhesion to the surfaces for which acetone was used for the activation reaction was significantly greater. Statistical analysis of the various samples suggests that lower peptide concentrations and higher tresyl chloride reaction times result in better cell adhesion. Furthermore, modification with YIGSR resulted in higher surface concentrations and better cell adhesion than modification with RGDS. Little or no cell adhesion was noted on the unmodified pHEMA controls. Protein adsorption results suggest that the differences in cell adhesion cannot be attributed to differences in serum protein adsorption from the culture medium. We conclude that YIGSR modified surfaces have significant potential for further development in corneal applications.