Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic Applications
Transparent composite hydrogel in the form of a contact lens made from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was subjected to in vitro biocompatibility evaluation with human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2 cells). The cell response to direct contact with the hydrogels was inves...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/10/3/35 |
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| author | Gopi Krishna Tummala Viviana R. Lopes Albert Mihranyan Natalia Ferraz |
| author_facet | Gopi Krishna Tummala Viviana R. Lopes Albert Mihranyan Natalia Ferraz |
| author_sort | Gopi Krishna Tummala |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Transparent composite hydrogel in the form of a contact lens made from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was subjected to in vitro biocompatibility evaluation with human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2 cells). The cell response to direct contact with the hydrogels was investigated by placing the samples on top of confluent cell layers and evaluating cell viability, morphology, and cell layer integrity subsequent to 24 h culture and removal of the hydrogels. To further characterize the lens−cell interactions, HCE-2 cells were seeded on the hydrogels, with and without simulated tear fluid (STF) pre-conditioning, and cell viability and morphology were evaluated. Furthermore, protein adsorption on the hydrogel surface was investigated by incubating the materials with STF, followed by protein elution and quantification. The hydrogel material was found to have affinity towards protein adsorption, most probably due to the interactions between the positively charged lysozyme and the negatively charged CNCs embedded in the PVA matrix. The direct contact experiment demonstrated that the physical presence of the lenses did not affect corneal epithelial cell monolayers in terms of integrity nor cell metabolic activity. Moreover, it was found that viable corneal cells adhered to the hydrogel, showing the typical morphology of epithelial cells and that such response was not influenced by the STF pre-conditioning of the hydrogel surface. The results of the study confirm that PVA-CNC hydrogel is a promising ophthalmic biomaterial, motivating future in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:01:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5382be111504fd38482be53517538f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4983 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T08:01:15Z |
| publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Biomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5382be111504fd38482be53517538f32022-12-22T01:56:47ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832019-08-011033510.3390/jfb10030035jfb10030035Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic ApplicationsGopi Krishna Tummala0Viviana R. Lopes1Albert Mihranyan2Natalia Ferraz3Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 534, 751 21 Uppsala, SwedenNanotechnology and Functional Materials, Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 534, 751 21 Uppsala, SwedenNanotechnology and Functional Materials, Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 534, 751 21 Uppsala, SwedenNanotechnology and Functional Materials, Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 534, 751 21 Uppsala, SwedenTransparent composite hydrogel in the form of a contact lens made from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was subjected to in vitro biocompatibility evaluation with human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2 cells). The cell response to direct contact with the hydrogels was investigated by placing the samples on top of confluent cell layers and evaluating cell viability, morphology, and cell layer integrity subsequent to 24 h culture and removal of the hydrogels. To further characterize the lens−cell interactions, HCE-2 cells were seeded on the hydrogels, with and without simulated tear fluid (STF) pre-conditioning, and cell viability and morphology were evaluated. Furthermore, protein adsorption on the hydrogel surface was investigated by incubating the materials with STF, followed by protein elution and quantification. The hydrogel material was found to have affinity towards protein adsorption, most probably due to the interactions between the positively charged lysozyme and the negatively charged CNCs embedded in the PVA matrix. The direct contact experiment demonstrated that the physical presence of the lenses did not affect corneal epithelial cell monolayers in terms of integrity nor cell metabolic activity. Moreover, it was found that viable corneal cells adhered to the hydrogel, showing the typical morphology of epithelial cells and that such response was not influenced by the STF pre-conditioning of the hydrogel surface. The results of the study confirm that PVA-CNC hydrogel is a promising ophthalmic biomaterial, motivating future in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility studies.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/10/3/35cellulose nanocrystalscornea regenerationcontact lenspoly(vinyl alcohol)therapeutic lens |
| spellingShingle | Gopi Krishna Tummala Viviana R. Lopes Albert Mihranyan Natalia Ferraz Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic Applications Journal of Functional Biomaterials cellulose nanocrystals cornea regeneration contact lens poly(vinyl alcohol) therapeutic lens |
| title | Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic Applications |
| title_full | Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic Applications |
| title_fullStr | Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic Applications |
| title_short | Biocompatibility of Nanocellulose-Reinforced PVA Hydrogel with Human Corneal Epithelial Cells for Ophthalmic Applications |
| title_sort | biocompatibility of nanocellulose reinforced pva hydrogel with human corneal epithelial cells for ophthalmic applications |
| topic | cellulose nanocrystals cornea regeneration contact lens poly(vinyl alcohol) therapeutic lens |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/10/3/35 |
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