A PVA/PVP hydrogel for human lens substitution: Synthesis, rheological characterization, and in vitro biocompatibility

To overcome opacification and absence of accommodation of human lens substitutes a new poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(N-vinyl-2- pyrrolidinone) (PVP) based hydrogel (PPS31075) was realised. The Infrared Spectroscopy and the mechanical spectra confirmed the successful occurrence of crosslinking reaction. The rheological analysis pointed out a behavior comparable with that of young human lens in terms of complex shear modulus and accommodation capability. Further analysis in terms of optical properties, water content measurements, diffusion coefficient, cytotoxicity, and human capsular cell adhesion confirmed the applicability of such a hydrogel as potential human lens substitute.