Author(s)

Baljit K. Ghatora^1*, Peter J. S. Foot¹, Stephen J. Barton¹, Ravtej S. Thatti¹, Antonio Papagni², Luca Vaghi²

¹Materials Research Centre, SEC Faculty, Kingston University, Surrey, UK.
²Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy.

Intraocular lenses can be manufactured from a wide variety of polymers, but due to the lost cost associated with the use of Poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), it is still the preferred material used in the developing countries. However, a major drawback to its use is the build-up of calcium containing deposits that are formed on the intraocular lens over a period of time. In an attempt to hinder this deposition, surface modification of medical grade PMMA has been carried out using perfluoroalkyl chain (1,2,4-trifluoro-3-(C₁₀F₂₁CH₂O)-7-(N,N)-dimethylaminoacridine) segregation. The segregation was explored using a 1% 1,2,4-trifluoro-3-(C₁₀F₂₁CH₂O)-7-(N,N)-dimethyla-minoacridine in two methods: film casting and spin-coating, a thin film onto preformed PMMA discs. Both methods were compared against control PMMA to determine which method provided the best hindrance against calcium containing deposits when immersed in a simulated aqueous humour solution. Characterisation of the surface using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy; dispersive x-ray analysis indicated that the surface segregation of perfluoroalkyl chains had hindered calcification in both methods. This pleminary research shows promising results of employing perfluoroalkyl chains in the surface segregation of biomaterials that can be employed in intraocular lenses.

Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA), Perfluoroalkyl, Segregation, Medical Polymers, Wettability, Calcium Deposits

Ghatora, B. , Foot, P. , Barton, S. , Thatti, R. , Papagni, A. and Vaghi, L. (2017) Surface Perfluoroalkyl Chains Segregation: A Tool for Reducing Calcium Deposits in Medical Grade Poly(Methyl Methacrylate). Journal of Biomaterials and Nanobiotechnology, 8, 176-187. doi: 10.4236/jbnb.2017.82012.