Electro-spun polyethylene terephthalate (PET) mat as a keratoprosthesis skirt and its cellular study

Artificial keratoprostheses are indispensable for visual rehabilitation in patients with end-stage corneal blindness. This study aimed to assess the biocompatibility of polyethylene terephthalate nanofibrous mats and its potential as a novel synthetic keratoprosthesis skirt material for corneal tissue engineering. Nanofibrous mats were prepared by an electrospinning method and were first treated with the CO2 plasma to yield carboxylic groups on the surface; finally, the modified PET mat was cross linked with collagen using water-soluble carbodiimide as a coupling agent. The samples were evaluated by ATR-FTIR, scanning electron microscope (SEM), contact angle, and cell culture. The cross-linking of collagen on PET surface was confirmed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and SEM images The 79° difference was obtained in the contact angle analysis, obtained for the collagen-cross-linked nanofibrous mat than the non-modified nanofibrous mat. Cellular investigation showed limbal epithelial progenitor cells (LEPCs) has been better adhesion, cell growth, and proliferation of collagen-crosslinked nanofibrous samples than other samples. The bioavailability of PET fibers with covalently attached collagen was found to be identical to that of PET fibers with covalent attachment is a suitable method for enhancing the biocompatibility of scaffolds special as a good skirt in keratoprosthesis designs.