Enhanced cornea cell growth on a keratoprosthesis material immobilized with fibronectin or EGF

The surface of keratoprosthesis (KPro) material was modified with functional proteins to enhance corneal cell growth. Surface modification of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates resulted in greater relative cornea cells growth. The increased growth rate of fibroblast on PMMA with immobilized functional proteins, fibronectin or epidermal growth factor (EGF), was approx. 39% or 19%, respectively. The modified PMMA surface with fibronectin or EGF also increased the human corneal limbal epithelial cell line (HCLE) growth to a maximum of 27% or 73%, respectively. However, PMMA surfaces with non-covalently adsorbed functional proteins did not significantly promote the growth of fibroblast or HCLE. To achieve the maximum growth of cornea cells, the bulk protein concentrations were in the range of 50 and 100 μg/mL for both proteins. This study found the relationship between specific cell growth and functional protein concentrations. Due to its ability to stimulate cell growth with known protein concentration, the newly designed KPro material with selective immobilized proteins may promote integration between KPro and the host tissue.