Hu Cheng-Ti, Liang Zhi-Xuan, Luo Jhen-Yu, Chiu Po-Hsun, Day Annabelle I, Hsieh Chih-Chen, Shih Po-Jen, Li Jia-Han, Kuo Bo-I, Wang I-Jong, Yen Jia-Yush, Dai Chi-An
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Institute of Polymer Science and Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
Biomacromolecules. 2025 Jul 14;26(7):4612-4625. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00588. Epub 2025 Jun 17.
The increasing prevalence of cataracts underscores the urgent need for intraocular lens (IOL) materials that provide optical clarity, foldability, glistening resistance, and long-term biocompatibility. In this study, we developed hydro-amphiphilic ternary copolymers composed of styrene, hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and poly(ethylene glycol) phenyl ether acrylate (PEGPEA) to address these requirements. This rational design integrates the strength and refractive index of hydrophobic styrene with the flexibility and hydrophilicity of HEMA and PEGPEA. The optimized formulation (H3), comprising 50 wt % HEMA, 30 wt % PEGPEA, and 20 wt % styrene, showed excellent transparency after accelerated aging, sufficient modulus and elongation for safe surgical handling, and low cytotoxicity in CCK-8 assays. Cytokine analyses revealed no significant inflammatory response compared to a commercial hydrophobic acrylic IOL. These findings highlight hydro-amphiphilic copolymers as a promising next-generation material platform for IOLs, offering a biocompatible, glistening-free, and foldable solution for enhanced surgical outcomes and long-term patient satisfaction.
白内障患病率的不断上升突显了对眼内晶状体(IOL)材料的迫切需求,这些材料需具备光学清晰度、可折叠性、抗闪烁性和长期生物相容性。在本研究中,我们开发了由苯乙烯、甲基丙烯酸羟乙酯(HEMA)和聚(乙二醇)苯醚丙烯酸酯(PEGPEA)组成的亲水-疏水三元共聚物,以满足这些要求。这种合理的设计将疏水苯乙烯的强度和折射率与HEMA和PEGPEA的柔韧性和亲水性相结合。优化配方(H3)包含50 wt%的HEMA、30 wt%的PEGPEA和20 wt%的苯乙烯,在加速老化后显示出优异的透明度,具有足够的模量和伸长率以确保安全的手术操作,并且在CCK-8试验中具有低细胞毒性。细胞因子分析显示,与市售疏水丙烯酸IOL相比,没有明显的炎症反应。这些发现突出了亲水-疏水共聚物作为IOL有前景的下一代材料平台,为提高手术效果和患者长期满意度提供了一种生物相容、无闪烁且可折叠的解决方案。