Intraocular lens implant

Abstract

The present invention provides a hydrogel-based intraocular lens (IOL) implant that can covalently attach to a lens capsule on implantation into an eye. The inventive IOL has a high refractive index, high elasticity, and is of a similar size to a naturally occurring lens. In addition, the IOL can be implanted in a smaller, dehydrated state, allowing the IOL to be placed in the lens capsule with a small incision (up to about 1/10 the volume of the IOL). Exposure to fluid can then initiate rapid swelling of the dried polymer to the shape and dimensions of a natural lens, with full occupation of the lens capsule. Upon equilibrium swelling, the IOL can then make contact with the inner aspect of the lens capsule and covalently bind to it. By this attachment process, the IOL may accommodate in a manner identical to that of the natural lens.

1 . An intraocular lens implant, comprising: 
 (a) a hydrogel; and    (b) active functional groups covalently linked to a surface of said hydrogel,    wherein said active functional groups mediate covalent binding of said intraocular lens implant to an eye's lens capsule upon implantation of said intraocular lens implant into said lens capsule.    
   
   
       2 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said active functional groups comprise N-hydroxysuccinimide.  
   
   
       3 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said active functional groups are covalently linked to said surface of said hydrogel through a photoreactive azide.  
   
   
       4 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said photoreactive azide comprises 5-Azido-2-nitrobenzoic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester.  
   
   
       5 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said active functional groups covalently bind to proteins in said lens capsule.  
   
   
       6 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said proteins are at least one of collagen, collagen type I and collagen type III  
   
   
       7 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said active functional groups covalently bind to said lens capsule via free amines on proteins present in said lens capsule.  
   
   
       8 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said hydrogel can swell from a dehydrated state to a rehydrated state within about 2 hours.  
   
   
       9 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the weight and volume ratios of said hydrogel in a dehydrated versus a hydrated state are between about 10:90 and about 40:60.  
   
   
       10 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein water content of said hydrogel in a dehydrated state is between about 0 and about 30%.  
   
   
       11 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein water content of said hydrogel in a rehydrated state is between about 60 and about 90%.  
   
   
       12 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said hydrogel is a homopolymer, copolymer or interpenetrating network based on at least one of poly(ethylene glycol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(2-hydroxy ethylacrylate), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(methacrylic acid) and their derivatives.  
   
   
       13 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said hydrogel has an elastic modulus of between about 1 kPa and about 250 kPa.  
   
   
       14 . The intraocular lens implant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said hydrogel has a refractive index of between about 1.33 to about 1.42.