Comparison of corneal epithelial cellular growth on synthetic cornea materials.

The application of artificial corneas for severely wounded ocular surfaces has always encountered the problem of biocompatibility with corneal epithelial cells (CECs). For the eye to stay healthy, it must continually have a complete sheet of CECs across the artificial corneal surface. Various surface modifications of different polymeric materials have been examined to determine which have the best cellular growth rates. A mathematical model of corneal cell growth profiles on synthetic materials was formulated based upon a linear mitotic growth rate. Experimental data reported for the CEC growth on modified poly(vinyl alcohol), silicone rubber, polystyrene, and polycarbonate was analyzed using the model to estimate the linear mitotic rate constant (k). The model proved to be useful in comparing data from different investigators. Plasma-induced graft copolymerized poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) on silicone rubber provided the best growth rate from this particular set of data.