In vitro evaluation of biocompatibility of surface-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) plate with rabbit lens epithelial cells

Abstract

Collagen type I was immobilized onto a poly(methyl methaerylate) (PMMA) plate by covalent bonding following surface modification by two methods. One method introduced amino groups by aminolysis with N-lithiocthylenediamine (PMMA-NH2) and the other introduced carboxyl groups by graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AAc) and acrylamide (AAm) (PMMA-COOH). Lens epithelial rabbit cells were cultured on the PMMA plate which was immobilized with collagen. Polygonal cells with a mosaic appearance were observed on the PMMA-COOH plate immobilized with collagen type I, whereas pleomorphic cells were present on the virgin PMMA and on the PMMA-NH2 plate immobilized with collagen type I. We concluded the PMMA-COOH plate immobilized with collagen type I provided a more comfortable atmosphere for lens epithelial cells, causing no metaplasia, than the other plates used in this cell culture model experiment.