Artificial Cornea with Double-Side Microtextured pHEMA Hydrogel

Background

As stated by World Health Organization (WHO), over 10 million people suffer from corneal blindness globally and 285 million people are visually impaired; however, only 1/50 of the patients obtained corneal transplants each year worldwide due to lack of donor tissue. In addition, functional defects and heterogeneity of the transplanted cornea commonly occur within a few years of the surgery because of the prevalent use of tissue from older cornea donors. Rejection of donated tissue constitutes another substantive problem in the art.

Overall, full corneal translation from a donor is inefficient and inaccessible for many. A rising geriatric population and the increasing incidence of eye diseases worldwide are expected to be the prime factors driving the demand worldwide for keratoprosthesis (i.e., artificial cornea) treatment.

Summary

The present invention relates to an artificial cornea made of Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) hydrogel. The pHEMA is microtextured on both sides to facilitate integration of the artificial cornea with the native tissue of a patient. Specifically, the artificial cornea is designed so that it is biocompatible, driving rapid proliferation of corneal epithelial cells while also enhancing the adhesion of corneal fibroblasts. By fostering its integration with the epithelium as such, the artificial cornea limits the chances of infection, inflammation or extrusion. By integrating with the stroma, the stability of the material within the eye improves. These factors ultimately expedite recovery from surgical implantation. In addition, no donor tissue is required, and the risk of rejection is low. The current artificial cornea products on the market use the stiff materials like Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), of which Young’s Modulus ranges from 2 to 3 GPa. Stiff materials are likely to increase the risks of tissue extrusion and inflammation. The pHEMA hydrogel is soft but durable with the Young’s Modulus ranging from 1 to 10 MPa, making it ideal for permanent wearing while decreasing discomfort.

Benefits:

- Promote cell proliferation and adhesion to enhance patient’s recovery speed

- Lower the risk of infection and inflammation post operation

- No tissue rejection due no donor tissue is needed

- Comfortable and safe for life-long usage

- Prevent dryness in patient’s eye

- Thickness and curvature of the artificial cornea can be customized to suit patient’s eye

Applications:

- Artificial cornea

- Optical lens implants        

Key words:

Hydrogel; microtexturing; artificial cornea; ophthalmology; implants; tissue engineering