PPHEMA-MODIFIED SILICONE-RUBBER FILM TOWARDS IMPROVING RABBIT CORNEALEPITHELIAL-CELL ATTACHMENT AND GROWTH

A plasma polymerized HEMA (ppHEMA) film was prepared by plasma deposit ion polymerization onto an elastic material, silicone rubber. The surf aces of control, argon plasma-treated, and PPHEMA-modified silicone ru bber were characterized by ESCA, FTIR-ATR and SEM techniques. ESCA ver ified the respective chemical shift of control and ppHEMA-modified fil ms. The presence of the ppHEMA was also verified by ESCA. The introduc tion of ppHEMA onto a hydrophobic support provided an adequate surface for rabbit corneal epithelial cell attachment and growth. Cell attach ment and growth onto these surfaces were examined by light microscopy. Cell attachment onto the control and the argon plasma-treated surface was negligible, while improved attachment and growth of rabbit cornea l epithelium cells was demonstrated on the ppHEMA-modified polymeric s urface. The ppHEMA-modified silicone rubber surface demonstrated a con fluent cell layer after 72 h.