Preparation and evaluation of a lubricious treated cartridge used for implantation of intraocular lenses

In the last decades, many surface modification technologies have been developed in an attempt to improve the function of medical device surfaces by adding or enhancing surface characteristics. These value-added processes included treatment to affect lubricity, hemocompatibility and drug delivery. A unique hydrophilic, lubricious coating was developed to treat hydrophobic polymer surfaces. The coating platforms described are composed of a polyelectrolyte molecular film containing hydrophilic, lubricant molecules. The molecular film is then further cross-linked wish di-functional aldehyde molecules to form an interpenetrating network (IPN). The IPN entraps lubricant molecules in the matrix and provides for prolonged stability of the lubricity. This coating was applied to cartridges which were used to deliver intraocular lenses (IOLs) that replaced the calaractous crystalline lenses in patients In order to determine the safety and effectiveness of the coating, a rabbit in vivo study was designed to evaluate the ease of implantation and postoperative response to implantation of the foldable acrylic IOLs. The performance evaluation of the lubricious treated cartridges focused on the ease of insertion and post-IOL implantation response. It was found that the UNFOLDER (TM) Emerald Insertion System (Advanced Medical Optics) with lubricious treated cartridges generally required lower insertion forces than the standard UNFOLDER (TM) Emerald cartridges. The postoperative inflammatory response following lens extraction and posterior chamber implantation of low (6D), medium (20D) and high (30D) diopter foldable acrylic IOLs with both treated and standard cartridges was mild. Inflammation generally resolved by 3 weeks. Thus, in this animal study, the coating was shown to be effective in assisting the delivery of IOLs through cartridges, without causing any adverse effects.