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.