Lubricin as a Surface Treatment to Reduce Post-operative Biofouling and Infection

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe goal of this research was to investigate the ability of lubricin to prevent bio-fouling of intraocular lenses after surgery, through surface coating trials with lubricin and analogues of the two major sub-units of the lubricin molecule (mucin and vitronectin). Yearly, there are over 6 million surgeries worldwide that involve intraocular lenses (IOLs) 1. However, preventing post-operative biofouling and bacterial infection of these implants remains a challenge 2. Surface modification of IOLs may provide a solution. This study proposes the use of the anti-adhesive protein lubricin (LUB), a glycoprotein found in the synovial fluid, as a means to make polymer surfaces less prone to bacterial adhesion and proliferation; thus, reducing the opportunity for post-operative infection 3. This study used extended bacteria growth trials on tissue cultures polystyrene coated with either lubricin, vitronectin, or mucin to investigate how lubricin and protein sub-regions of lubricin may reduce bacterial adhesion and proliferation.