Epithelialization of hydrogels achieved by amine functionalization and co-culture with stromal cells

Rimmer, Stephen and Johnson, Claire and Zhao, Bojun and Collier, Joyleen and Gilmore, Louisa and Sabnis, Subodh and Wyman, Paul and Sammon, Christopher and Fullwood, Nigel J. and MacNeil, Sheila (2007) Epithelialization of hydrogels achieved by amine functionalization and co-culture with stromal cells. Biomaterials, 28 (35). pp. 5319-5331. ISSN 0142-9612

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a hydrogel which would be suitable for corneal cell re-epithelialization when used as a corneal implant. To achieve this, a series of hydrogels were functionalized with primary amines by post-polymerization reactions between amine compounds and glycidyl ether groups attached to the hydrogels. We report a strong correlation between the structure of the amine and the viability of stromal cells and epithelial cells cultured on these hydrogels. Subsequent co-culture of epithelial and stromal cells on the amine modified hydrogels allowed successful expansion of epithelial cells on surfaces functionalized with alkyl alpha-omega diamines with carbon chain lengths of between 3 and 6. Analysis of variance showed that corneal epithelial cells had a strong preference for surfaces functionalized by the reaction of excess 1,3 diaminopropane with units of glycidyl methacrylate compared to the reaction products of other amines (ammonia; 1,2-diaminoethane; 1,4-diaminobutane or 1,6-diaminohexane). We suggest this approach of amine functionalization combined with stromal/epithelial co-culture offers a promising new approach to achieving a secure corneal epithelium.