4116 Biointegrable keratoprosthesis, 4 years study

m Our previous studies demonstrated functional differentiatedcells and collagen synthesis in the pores of an ePrFE implant. This study quantifies and identities collagen types synthesized in this polymer. Methods: Rabbit eyes were implanted with a 6mm diameter disc of an ePTFE disc (Impra@,) (0.2”” thick, SO/r” pore :size with a mean porosity of 88*4% and the channels were perpendicular to the surface). Collagens pepsinextracted from the polymer &d implanted rabbit cornea and from control cornea1 stroma were auantified wine OH-Proline. Semi-quantitative analysis 0f ~011sgen types was’performed using densitometry after SDS-PAGE. Results: In the polymer, three months afier the implantation, the collagen to total protein ratio reached 0.70, similar to control cornea1 stroma. Moreover, from the third month following implantation in both implant and implanted stroma. total proteinand collagen densities were similar to those observed in control. The collagen synthesized in the polymer was mainly type 1 (87%) plus a small amount of type III (8%) one month after the implantation. From the third month after implantation the collagen distribution was similar to that of the control cornea and remained constsnt thereafter in the polymer and in the implantedstroma. Conclusion Keratocytes invaded the polymer, rapidly adopted a comeal phenotype distinct from dermal or scarring phenotype as revealed by the collagen types produced in this implant. Moreover, our results confirm that this polymer offers a good interface p&ctly compatible with the native cornea.