Cell and protein adhesion studies in glaucoma drainage device development

Aim-To examine in vitro whether phosphorylcholine coating of poly(methylmet hacrylate) can reduce the adhesion of fibrinogen, fibrin, human scleral fib roblast and macrophage compared with current biomaterials used in the const ruction of glaucoma drainage devices. Methods-Sample discs (n=6) of poly(methylmethacrylate), silicone, polypropy lene, PTFE, and phosphorylcholine coated poly(methylmethacrylate) were seed ed with fibrinogen, fibrin, fibroblast, and macrophages and incubated for v ariable lengths of time. The quantification was performed using radioactivi ty, spectrophotometry, ATP dependent luminometry, and immunohistochemistry respectively. Results-Fibrinogen and fibrin adhesion to phosphorylcholine coated poly(met hylmethacrylate) were significantly lower than PMMA (p=0.004). Phosphorylch oline coating of poly (methylmethacrylate) also significantly reduced the a dhesion of human scleral fibroblast (p=0.002) and macrophage (p=0.01) compa red with PMMA. All the other biomaterials showed either similar or insignif icantly different levels of adhesion to all the proteins and cells tested c ompared with PMMA. Conclusion-Phosphorylcholine coating is a new material technology that offe rs considerable promise in the field of glaucoma drainage device developmen t.